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CIHM/SCMH 

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symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


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^i  ^n  M^t  lis- €m^tm ;    ' 

OB,  THE 

TRIUMPHS  OF  TEMPERANCE, 

A8  EXHIBITEa)  IN  ITHB 

lin,  TBIVEIS,  IWB  ADVEJfTUBES 


or 


SAMUEL  MUDWAY  HEWLETT. 
TOTAL  ABSTINENCE, 

AB  BBHTEB  BY  HIMSBIJ'. 


BOSTON: 
SEEDING  *  CO..  PUBU8HEKS 


8  State  Street, 
1862. 


l-R      Hvssf^i.^'Q  ^  5 


Entered  aooording  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1862,  by 

SAMUEL  MUD  WAY  HEWLETT, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Distriot  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


1  i 


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i 


TO 


1 1862,  by 
jaohusettfl*      |' 


44 


itroros  at.  saroent,  esq. 

THIS  LITTLE  BOOK, 
I"     "BMBMBEAKOB    0? 

IS  DEDICATED 
BY    THB    AUTHOR. 


3l$ll-(^i 


P  R  E  F  ACE. 


-•♦•- 


Scarcely  any  person^s  life,  if  faithfully  written, 
would  not  be  perused  with  interest,  more  especially 
when  it  has  been  one  of  dangers  escaped,  and  of 
vicissitudes  of  a  startling  nature.    Such  has  been  the 
nature  of  my  career,  which  I  have  here  related  in  its 
two  phases ;  the  first  that  of  an  indulger  in  intem- 
perance, the  second  as  that  of  an  advocate  of  total 
abstinence.    Example  will  often  prevail  when  argu- 
ments are  powerless,  and  the  folly  of  drinking  habits 
is  perhaps  better  shown  by  the  honest  confessions  of 
a  reformed  man,  than  by  labored  essays,  or  exciting 
fictions.    It  is  as  a  warning  and  a  guide  that  these 
pages  ha\e  been  penned. 

If  they  shall,  while  yielding  information  as  to  my 
early  career,  be  the  means  of  enabling  others  to 
avoid  the  ruinous  temptations  of  the  inebriating  cup, 
they  will  not  have  been  written  in  vain. 
Boston,  Mass..  Dec,  1861.  S.  M.  H. 


In 


It 


Win 


1 

& 


:\    i 


# 


CONTENTS. 


I 


PART  PIBST. 
CHAPTER  I. 

CHAPTER   II. 

CHAPTEE  HI. 

A  Geman   Aoqu^Unc^-Th"  ^  "".'  ""«"■«- 
»  Runaway  Sailor -PftLl         »  ""'  Club-Am 

SteplnAa«»ce-l'BjS:m,(SS^-'"'""""''"-^ 


11 


20 


Vlll 


CONTENTS. 


I 


^  > 


i     . 


'    » 


8» 


CHAPTER  IV. 

I  become  Socond  Steward  of  a  Btearaor  — A  Stabbing 
Uead-Steward—  Dlsoult-maklng  Extraordinary  — St. 
L'^ulB  dissipation— I  linprovo  In  blflculta  — The  Cap- 
tain's caution  — Now  OrloanB  — Strange  adventure 
with  a  Creole— 1  have  the  choice  of  being  married 
or  shot- My  escape  ftom  a  Tigress  —  My  heels  save 
my  head.... ^ •• 

CHAPTER  V. 

A  22d  of  February  Speech—  I  begin  to  Meditate  —  Resolve 
to  visit  my  Father  —Thomas  H.  Benton  and  his  Kind- 
ness—I  visit  Home- Master  Beals  — A  Partnership 

—  Singing— Dancing  and  Vagabondizing  generally 

—  Drink  to  drown  oare  —  Join  Mr.  La  B .  —  Par- 
tial success  —  La  B puts  me  in  a  fix—  Canal-boak 

life  —  The  '*  Water-Mellon-Patoh  "  song — Success  and 
Drink  again— Love. ••••• 

CHAPTER  VI. 

I  go  to  Canada— Montreal— Drink  and  Dissipation  — 
Good  Resolves  Futile  — I  ride  Horseback  Into  a 
Church  and  get  into  Prison  — Desertion— I  Travel 
to  the  Lakes  — Weary  Travelling— Buy  a  Canoe  — 
A  Canoe  Voyage  down  Ihe  Long  Sault  and  Narrow  Es- 
cape —  Messina  Point— Desperate  Condition 61 

CHAPTER  VII. 

I  swap  my  Canoe  for  Whiskey  —  Back  to  Buflklo—  Des- 
pair— Attempt  Suicide  twice  — Am  rescued— New 
Resolves  —  1  go  Homeward  —  Terrible  Destitution  — 
A  Lady's  Kindness  — Ingratitude— I  turnPhrenol- 

'  ogist  —  A  Landlord's  Vanity—  Find  Myself  Afloat— 
A  Prediction  —  Reach  New  York 70 


61 


Contents.  |j| 

chapter  viii. 

Return  to  Newark -Meeting  with  my  Father  —  The 
Waahlngtonlan  Movement  ~  Hear  a  Speech  and  make 
one  Myself  ~  The  Turning  Point  In  my  Life  —  I  Sign 
the  Pledge  — The  Chain  Broken ^3 


FABT  SECOND. 

its  %mpxma  6amn 


CHAPTER  I. 

commence  a  Temperance  Ct.reer- Encouragement-- 
Deacon  Grant- Join  the  W ishingtonians  —  Faneui) 
Hall  —  My  Marriage— David  and  Goliath—"  The  Lit- 
tle Jersey  Gun" -The  Boston  Quartette  Club-South- 
ern Tour-Uandsome  Present- A  Sad  Accident - 
Enormous  Egg-Eating •  •  •  

CHAPTER  II. 


S9 


I  go  to  Charleston,  8.  C.-Great  Enthusiasm -John  C 
Calhoun's  Funeral-A  Rough  Ride-Go  to  Pennsylva-' 
nia-Harvest  Home  Temperance  Meeting-Return 
South-Northern  Visit-Remove  to  Horicon-Build  a 
Drug  Store-Death  of  Wife-Another  Southern  Visit- 
Go  West-Visit  Minnesota-I  Marry  again 99 

CHAPTER  III. 

Another  Lecturing  Tour-Excitement  in  the  South-Opel-       ' 
ka-Narrowly  escape  being  hanged  for  an  Abolitionist 
-Am  Released-Vigilanoe  Committee-Change  at  Co- 
lumbus-Return to  V/isconsin-Re-visit  Newark-Visit 
Canada  and  British  Provinces ,03 


( 


X  CONTENTS. 

PABT  THIBD. 

CHAPTER  I. 
Summary  of  Labors,  Accidents,  Ac— Presents,  &o m 


§ 


PABT  FOUBTH. 
Testimonials,  &o , .,,..,.  117 


'liiii  I 
i 
r 


I 


J   : 


I.!      i 


iu.. 


Ill 


117 


art  Jlrd. 


-♦♦•■- 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAEEEE. 


ti 


i! 


■\ 


w^ 


hh 


PART  FIRST. 


Ml^  Intemperate  €mtx. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Introduction  -  Reflections  -  My  English  Birthplace  -  Han- 
nah More-  Fossil  Caves  -  Early  Emigration-  My  Parents 
—Maternal  Influence-!  go  to  School  -The  French  Teacher 
taught-New  mode  of  teaching  French  —  Reciprocity. 

A  GKEAT  writer  has  said  with  much 
truth,  that  if  "  any  man  were  to  record 
faithfully  the  events  of  his  career,  he 
could  not  fail  to  make  an  interesting  narra- 
tive." Truth  is  indeed  stranger  than 
fiction ;  and  the  every-day  events  of  the 
•world  surpass  romance  in  interest.  I  am 
about  to  truly  relate  some  of  the  incidents 
of  a  checkered  career.     I  shall  confess  to 


12 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


iii 


liiip^ 


m ! 


* 

many  a  fault  and  many  a  folly— rwo^  be- 
cause   I    admire    the    "  pride    that   apes 
humility,  or  that  I  wish  to  glory  in  my 
shame/'  but  in  order  that  I  may,  by  ex- 
ample, act  as  a  beacon-light,  and  prevent, 
so  far  as  I  can,  others  from  drifting  to  the 
rocks  and  shoals  on  which  I  had  so  nearly 
been  wrecked.     M/  vessel  of  Life,  thanks 
;  to  a  merciful  Providence,  did  not  founder 
in  the  dreadful  sea  of  Intemperance,  whose 
billows   often  and  again,  so   nearly  over- 
whelmed me.     The  Life-Boat,  "  Total  Ab- 
stinence," manned  by  a  benevolent  crew, 
snatched  me  from  the  abyss  ;  so  I  now  sit 
down  to  record  the  events  of  my  perilous 
voyage,   and    to    teU    something    of   my 
calm   cruising    along    those  shores  whose 
harbors  afford  safe  anchorage,  and  whose 
currents  flow  toward  the  haven  of  Eternal 
rest. 

I  cannot,  to  a  certain  extent,  avoid  being 
egotistical,  but  the  reader,  remembering 
that  this  is  an  "  Autobiography,"  will  at 


not  be- 
lt apes 

in  my 
by  ex- 
revent, 

to  the 

nearly 
thanks 
bunder 

whose 
'  over- 
al  Ab- 

crew, 
ow  sit 
erilous 
)f  my 
whose 
whose 
Iternal 

being 
bering 
dll  at 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER.  13 

f  once  perceive  the  necessity  of  a  frequent 
use  of  the  "first  person  singiilar.-  Be- 
sides I  want  to  be  as  simple  as  possible, 
and  to  talk  to  him  on  paper  as  though  he 
were  hstening  to  my  living  voice.  So  much, 
by  way  of  mtroduction. 

I       17^3  born  on  the  17th  of  October,  1818 
mthe  pretty  village  of  Banwell,  England' 
long  since  celebrated  for  its  Fossil  Caves' 
and  for  the  visits  of  Mrs.  Hannah  More 
who   founded   a  school  there.     Banwell  is 

^  situated  about  fourteen  miles  from  Bristol 
the  great  Commercial  Emporium    of  the' 

I  tell  anythmg  for  the  simple  reason  that  I 
commenced  my  traveling  career  at  a  very 
early  age  ;  so  early  that  I  was  but  just  one 
year    old  when  the  vessel,  in  which  my 

o njewfbundland.      In  hopes  of  bettering 
his  condition  my  father  had   left  the  old 

r;  7k  ?r  z  ^™^'  '^  -^^^^^  ^' 

i^ewark,  N.  J.,  and  commenced  business  as 


ill 


14 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


ill 


m  ■' 


a  Tanner,  in  which  he  so  far  succeeded,  both 
in  the  way  of  commerce,  and  in  establish- 
ing a  good  reputation,  that  he  resides  there 
to  this  day,  a  respected  citizen. 

My  mother,  I  have  heard  was  an  ex- 
cellent and  well-educated  woman,  but,  of 
course  I  retain  only  a  very  indistinct  re- 
membrance of  her  as  she  died  when  I  was 
ten  years  old.  She  was  taken  from  me  too 
early  for  me  personally  and  practically  to 
estimate  the  invaluable  blessings  of  a 
mother's  love.  Had  she  lived  a  few  years 
longer,  her  affectionate  influence  might 
have  materially  influenced  my  career  for 
the  better,  for  though,  my  father  did  all  in 
his  power  to  mould  and  direct  my  character, 
yet  every  thoughtful  person  will  agree  with 
me. in  the  opinion  that  it  is  the  mother  who 
exercises  the  greatest  and  best  influence  on 
her  child.  I  was  an  only  child,  too ;  for  a 
little  sister  died  in  her  infancy,  and  when  I 
lc5t  my  parent,  had  no  other  sister  to 
partially  take  her  place.    I  do  not  mention 


I. 

ded,  both 
sstablisli- 
des  there 

s  an  ex- 
,  but,  of 
itinct  re- 
3n  I  was 
n  me  too 
ically  to 
5s  of  a 
Bw  years 
s  might 
-reer  for 
iid  all  in 
iiaracter, 
;ree  with 
her  who 
lence  on 
0;  for  a 
I  when  I 
ister  to 
mention 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


15 


these  matters  as  any  excuse  for  my  after- 
excesses,  but  merely  as  facts  in  my  history. 
When  I  had  attained  my  twelfth  year, 
I  was  sent  to  a  boarding-school  at  Staten 
Island.     It  so  happened  that  at  this  estab- 
lishment was  a  French  teacher,  who  en- 
gaged himself  in  the   work   of  tuition  in 
order,  rather,  to  learn  the  English  language, 
than  to  impart  a  knowledge  of  the  French 
tongue.     His  name  was  LeRoy.     Now,  I 
ought  to  mention  here,  that  I  was  early  dis- 
tinguished   for    an    exceedingly   retentive 
memory  and  that  I  had  an  insatiable  thirst 
for  knowledge.     My  tutors  were  not  long, 
too,  in  finding  out  that  I  had  a  natural 
aptitude  for  acquiring  languages,  and  they 
made  use  of  that  information  both  to  my 
benefit  and  that  of  Mr.  LeRoy.    And  this 
led  to  my  learning  the  French  language, 

V  which  has  since  proved  an  invaluable  ac- 

1  quisition. 

^  It  was  agreed  upon,  after  some  considera- 
tion,  that  I  should  tpar.li  Mr  t.oT?^ —  t7_- 


II    I   Hi 


b 


)i  i 


!  f  I 


16 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


lish,  and  he,    in  return    instruct    me  in 
French.       To  carry  this    into    effect  we 
roomed  together  —  each  of  us  in  turn  con- 
verting one  language  into  the  other.     Mr. 
LeKoy  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  go  into 
business  in  America,  and  therefore  a  know- 
ledge of  the  English  language  was  indis- 
pensable.    I  was  no  less  desirous  of  learn- 
ing French.     An  entente  cordiale  therefore 
existed,   and    one    far    more    cordial   and 
sincere  than  that  which   is   said  to   bind 
Great  Britain  and  France  at  the  present 
time. 

In  our  mutual  tuitions  we  did  not  by  any 
means  adopt  the  recognized  and  conven- 
tional methods  of  instruction,  but  I  assure 
you,  reader,  we* taught  each  other  in  a 
much  pleasanter  way.  Let  me  give  you 
an  example. 

Mr.  LeEoy  was  a  terrible  snorer,  and  it 
Was  no  small  annoyance  to  me  to  be  waked 
up  from  a  comfortable  nap,  by  the  bassoon- 
like  sounds  that   issued    from    his  nasal 


;  me  in 
fFect  we 
urn  con- 
3r.  Mr. 
go  into 
a  know- 
is  indis- 
►f  leam- 
herefore 
lial  and 
to  bind 
present 

by  any 
Donven- 

assure 
r  in  a 
ve  you 

and  it 

waked 

assoon- 

I  nasal 


MT  INTEMPERATE  CAEEEB.  17 

organ,  which  by  the  way,  was  very  far 
from  an  organ  that  had  music  in  it.  Add 
the  natural  nasal  French  pronunciation,  to 
the  unnatural  sounds  we  often  hear  from 

lam    ,dea  of  Mr.  LeRoy's  snore,  but  it 
would  be  a  very  faint  idea  indeed  I 
Now    when  my  French  bed-fellow  had 

jrned  me  beyond  expression,  I  used  to 
g>ve  h,m  a  sharp  poke  in  the  back  or  ribs 

uct  7  :'•'"'  ^^  '''"^^  ''-'  -J^en  some 
such  a  colloquy  as  this  would  ensue: 

Mb.  LeRoy. -_  »  Ah  !  sare !    Vat  voa 
poke  me,  for  ?  »  ^"^ 

tuiJy  that  I  can  get  no  sleep." 
Mb.  LeRot,  (waking  up.)  _ «  OM    i, , 

Mye/     Vatisdatf     Vat  lett^         ' 
epell  it  viz  ? "  •      V  at  letters  you 

';    [I  would  then  dve  him  <,  i 
.-thography  of  snoHn^"  VlT  S  f  ! 
Wned  this  he  would  sfy  0  ^"^ 


18 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


n 


''^ 


Mr.  LeEoy.  —  "Now,  vat  is  de  vay 
you  pronounce  snore  ?  " 

[Then  I  pronounced  the  word  over  and 
over  until  he  thoroughly  understood  how 
to  speak  it  properly  —  and  then  he  would 
go  to  sleep,  and  —  snore  again  I  ] 

Of  course  he  gave  me  similar  casual 
French  lessons,  and  so  diligent  were  we, 
that  in  six  weeks  he  could  make  himself 
thoroughly  understood  in  English,  and  I 
could,  for  a  boy,  speak  very  tolerably,  the 
French  language.  This  was  my  first 
foreign  lingual  acquirement,  and  I  was, 
perhaps,  a  little  vain  of  it.  Many  times 
since  I  have  thought  of,  and  been  amused 
at  the  manner  of  my  teaching.  I  am  not 
certain  that  it  was  the  best  mode  of  learn- 
ing or  of  acquiring,  but  of  one  thing  I  am 
quite  sure  that  the  process  taught  me  two 
important  lessons — the  value  of  reciprocity, 
and  of  self-reliance.  An  anecdote  is  re- 
lated somewhere  of  an  Englishman  who 
visited  Paris,  and  on  his  return  expressed 


de  vay 

ver  and 
►od  how 
e  would 

:  casual 
ere  we, 
himself 
,  and  I 
bly,  the 
ny  first 
I  was, 
y  times 
amused 
am  not 
f  learn- 
ig  I  am 
me  two 
procity, 
J  is  re* 
an  who 
pressed 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER.  I9 

drcn  should  speak  French  fluently  ^  after 
"rooming''    with    Mr.  LeRoy,  /felt    1 


^iM 


V 


CHAPTER  n. 


1  return  to  Newark -Reflections -Journey  to  Wllbraham 
Seminary— My  Travelling  Companions— My  Importance — 
NowYork-MyLlfesavodbyatljsht  boot— Hartford  Ex- 
perlences-An  Extemiiorized  Bedstead— My  first  lesson  in 
Finance. 

In  course  of  time  I  was  removed  from 
the  boarding-school,  and  went  to  Newark. 
My  mother  had  died  before  my  departure 
from  home.  I  was  too  young,  as  I  have 
before  remarked,  to  fully  realize  the  extent 
of  my  loss,  and  to  feel  what  a  catastrophe 
to  a  home  is  the  loss  of  its  Natural  head  — 
for  let  men  say  what  they  choose  al)oiit 
being  "  Masters,"  women  are  the  g  rtrdiau 
angels  and  Heaven-appointed  leaders  of  the 
domestic  circle.  Fathers,  however  excel- 
lent iKey  may  be,  are  not  fit  trainers  of 
their  y  mug  children  — for  all  experience 


J 

( 

I 

c 

tj 

n 
tl 
w 


^ilbraham 
ortanoe— 
tford  Ex- 
\,  lesson  in 


d  from 
ewark. 
parture 
I  have 
1  extent 
strophe 
iiead  — 
5  al)oiit 
Liardian 
s  of  the 
•  excel- 
aers  of 
)erience 


4; 


Mr  INTEMPERAFE  CAEEEB.  HI 

proves  that  they  eitlTspoil  them  by  <»y,» 
jnddgence,  or  repel  them  by  undua  eeverity. 
M  father,  perhaps,  felt  that  bein«  au  only 
ch.ld  he  might  "  spare  the  rod  a«d  cpoU 

to  the  Wesleyan  Seminary  at  Wilbraha^n, 
Massachusetts.  ' 

My  adventures,  after  having  been  in  « 
measure  thrown  on  my  own  resourees,  may 
be,  I  thmk,  dated  from  this  period.     *      ^ 
It  happened  that  three  other  boys,  were 
to  be  St  from  Newark  to  the  SemLary. 
and  I,  bemg  the  senior  of  the  four,  was  ap- 
pomted  to  take  eharge  of  them    and  5 
the:r  finanees.     The  latter  were  Lt  lite 
-  large  m    amount  as  those  whieh  "he 

Seeretary  of  the  Treasury  has  to  manage 
but  I  really  thmk  they  caused  me  to  ffel 

tional  functionary.  And  then,  to  be  the 
mster,  as  it  were  of  three  boys  younrr.r 
than  myself  I  The  idea  to  my  yLngTeS 
was  overwhelming  I  ^    ^" 


i.  I 


■m 


i  I 


.!;! 


<im  t 


22 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


Almost  at  our  very  outset,  a  remarkable 
circumstance  occurred,  ^hich  I  can  now 
look  back  upon,  as  a  special  interposition 
of  Providence,  but  which  then,  I  merely 
regarded  as  a  lucky  escape.  It  happened 
in  the  following  way  : 

We  had  crossed  the  Jersey  Ferry  to  New 
York,  intending,  after  making  some  little 
purchases  in  the  latter  city,  to  proceed  to 
Hartford,  on  our  way  to  Wilbraham.  Be- 
fore leaving  home  I  had  received  strict 
directions,  to  be  always  in  time  for  the 
stage  or  boat,  and  I  was  very  anxious  to 
comply  with  them.  Among  my  purchases 
in  New  York  was  a  pair  of  boots  which  I 
put  on  in  the  shop  where  I  bought  them, 
wishing,  I  suppose,  with  a  boyish  vanity  to 
exhibit  them  to  admiring  gazers.  There  is 
an  old  and  in  my  case,  a  true  saying  —  that 
"  Pride  must  be  pinched."  My  new  boots 
pinched  my  instep  and  toes  so  badly,  that 
before  I  had  walked  half  a  mile  toward  the 
boat,  I  was  compelled  to  stop  and  rest.     I 


f 


Ik 


1 


arkable 
an  now 
position 
merely 
ippened 

to  New 
le  little 
ceed  to 
1.  Be- 
l  strict 
for  the 
ious  to 
rchases 
rhich  I 
;  them, 
mity  to 
?here  is 
—  that 
7  boots 
ly,  that 
ird  the 
est.     I 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER.  23 

was  old  enough  to  feel  assured  that  Time 
and    Steam  -  as  well  as   Tide  will    stay 

time  of  the  boat's  departure  was  very  near 
-y/requent     delays    caused     me'^grea; 

anxiet^-^IHobbledonasweUasIcLld 
in  the  greatest  agony,  and  would  gladlv 

the'^e':  1  f  "^  ^^"  '^^^^  -^    'otted 
the  rest  of  the  way  barefooted,  but  who 

does  not  knowthedifficulty  of  drawing  off  a 
pair  of  t.ght,ew  boots?     I  could  fo    do 
It,  strive  as  I  would.     I  tu^^ed    nn^ 
companions  pulled,  but  it  :T1^^ 
and  so  I  liniped  painfully  along  the  rouTh 
streets  of  that  part  of  New  York  ^ 

At  length  we  came  in  sight  of  the  pier 
and   I  was  congratulating  n^yself  on    S 
termination  of  my  terrible  travel,  when  jus 
as  we  reached  the  middle  of  ti;  landC 

wesaw  the  boat  moving  off,-forgeS 
2  Pmched  toes,  I  ran  to  the  pier.head,^ 
the  boat  was  a  very  little  way  from  it,  and 
in  my  ignorance  I  hoped  and  believ..;  1 

—    •    — -*         Z.S.t.\J 


24 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


f 

I  Hi! 


t! 


Captain  would  return  and  take  us  on  board 
We  shouted  —  we  cried  —  we  implored  — 
but  it  was  all  of  no  use  —  the  boat  kept 
slowly  moving  off.  As  a  last  resource  and 
inducement,  we  emptied  our  pockets  (and 
what  does  not  a  boy's  pocket  hold  ?)  of 
marbles — tops — buttons — apples — cakes, 
and  the  like,  and  shouted  an  offer  to  the 
Captain  to  give  all  of  them  to  him  if  he  would 
but  come  back  for  us  —  we  labored  under 
the  delusion  that  he  could  not  withstand 
such  an  inducement !  Vain  hope  !  —  the 
stony-hearted  skipper  sang  out  "  Go-a- 
head !  "  the  vessel  was  speedily  out  of 
sight,  and  like  Lord  Ullin,  in  Campbell's 
ballad,  when  he  lost  his  child,  we  were  left 
to  mourn.     The  ballad  says  : 

"  The  waters  wild  swept  over  his  child. 
And  he  was  left  lamenting.'* 

The  "  waters  wild  "  did  not  sweep  over 
us  children,  but  they  had  very  nearly  done 
so  —  for  the  steamboat  (I  think  it  was  the 
Lexington,    but    am  not    certain)   whose 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER.  25 


I  board 
ored  — 
it  kept 
rce  and 
s  (and 
1?)  of 
-cakes, 
to  the 
3  would 
under 
thstand 
!  — the 
'  Go-a- 
)ut  of 
ipbell's 
ere  left 


p  over 

y  done 

'-as  the 

whose 


Captain    refused   to   return  for  us   never 
reached  her  destination.      Within  a  very 
few  hours  after  her  leaving  New  York,  she 
took  fire,  and  nearly  all  her  passengers  and 
crew  perished.      On  what  seeming  trifles 
hinges  our  destiny!    Had  it  not  been  for 
the  pair  of  tight  boots,  my  bones  and  those 
of  my  companions    might  now  have   been 
bleaching   at  the  bottom  of  Long  Island 
Sound.     Two  minutes  sooner,  and  I  should 
have  got  on  board— two  minutes  later,  and  I 
escaped  the  peril.     Thus,  how  often  what 
we  fancy  to  be  a  calamity  turns  out  to  be 
a  blessing  in  disguise.     I  do  not  ima<.ine 
however,  that  many  other  men  have\ad 
their  lives  saved  through  the  agency  of  a 
pair  of  tight  boots  ! 

Weil —  there  we  were  left  — four  little 
boys  —  standing  at  the  end  of  the  pier  — 
the  laughing-stocks  of  some,  the  pitied  of 
others -and  ourselves  images  of  despair. 
JKut,  happily  I  was  of  an  elastic  and  hope- 
tul  temperament,  and  then.  T  aw^Vn  ^.  ^ 


26 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


llJUl! 


SDH 
,J    !   i 


sense  of  my  responsibility  as  "  Guardian  '* 
of  my  three  fellow-travellers.  I  accord- 
ingly made  inquiries  as  to  when  the  next 
boat  for  Hartford  would  sail,  and  havins: 
ascertained  that  important  fact,  we  strolled 
about  the  city,  taking  especial  care  not 
again  to  be  behind  time. 

We  accordingly  took  passage  in  the  fol- 
lowing steamer,  and  arrived  safely  at  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  where,  on  landing  we  were 
surrounded  by  a  gang  of  runners,  each  of 
whom  seized  on  us,  as  if  we  had  been  his 
personal  property,  and  in  the  most  glowing 
terms  set  forth  the  peculiar  benefits  apper- 
taining to  their  several  hotels.  But  each 
of  these  touting  gentlemen  evidently,  and 
no  doubt,  flagrantly  departed  from  the  strict 
line  of  truth,  for  no  sooner  did  one  of  them 
launch  into  commendations  of  the  particular 
establishment  with  which  he  was  connect- 
ed, than  another  gave  him  the  lie  direct, 
and  expressed  an  ardent  desire  to  damage 
his   countenance;    which   damaging,   con- 


■'.« 


* 


^rdian  '* 
accord- 
le  next 
havinor 

strolled 
Lre  not 

lie  fol- 
t  Hart- 
3  were 
ach  of 
Jcn  his 

lowing 
apper- 
t  each 
ly,  and 
e  strict 
f  them 
•ticular 
mnect- 
direct, 
iamage 
,   con- 


'M 


.f 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER.  2T 

fiidering  that  every  runner's  face  had  either 
a  pucrilistically  flat  nose,  a  black  eye,  or 
swollen  lips,  behind  which  no  front  teeth 
were  visible,  appeared  to  be  quite  a  work 
of  supererogation. 

However,  we  aU  trudged  away,  our- 
solves  carrying  our  scanty  baggage,  and  at 
length  I  chose  a  place  of  refuge.  Havino- 
made  our  wants  known  we  were  shown  to 
a  room  on  the  fifth  story. 

There  was  in  the  bed  only  room  for 
three  of  us,  and  our  finances  would  not 
allow  of  my  taking  another  room.  What 
was  to  be  done  ?  Necessity  is  the  mother 
of  invention,  and  she  proved  a  kmd  parent 
to  me  m  this  emergency. 

There  was  a  bureau  in  the  room  -Wee 
and  old-fashioned,  .nd  while  studying  what 
I  should  do,  this  article  of  furniture  caught 
my  eye  A  lucky  thought  struck  me- 
could  I  not  with  a  portion  of  the  bed- 
clothes and  our  own  garments  make  up  a 
bed  for  the  smaUest  boy  of  our  party  ?    Of 


28 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


;,!t 


course  we  might ;  and  we  extemporised  a 
couch  in  a  very  short  time,  but  we  did  not 
go  to  bed  immediately,  for  chancing  to  look 
out  of  the  window  we  saw  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street  a  large  building,  with  the 
word  MUSEUM  printed  in  attractive  let- 
ters on  its  front. 

That  was  a  great  temptation,  for,  even  at 
this  time,  I  had  a  latent  love  of  pleasure. 
I  counted  the  money  in  my  possession,  — 
for  some  little  time  hesitated  —  and  then, 
persuading  myself  into  the  conviction  that 
I  could  not  afford  it,  but  that  a  little 
pleasure  was  absolutely  necessary,  deter- 
mined to  go.  The  fine  building  and  the 
brilliant  lights  also  dazzled  the  eyes  and 
the  imaginations  of  my  young  companions, 
so  that  it  needed  little  persuasion  to  induce 
them  to  accompany  me.  We  therefore  all 
left  the  hotel,  bound  on  a  voyage  of  De- 
light, in  the  barque  Hope, ' 

**  Youth  at  the  prow,  and  pleasure  at  the  helm.** 

When  we  reached  the  pay-office  of  the 


^ 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


)rised  a 
did  not 
;  to  look 
opposite 
v^ith  the 
ive  let- 
even  at 
leasure. 
ision,  — 
id  then, 
on  that 
a   little 
,  deter- 
and  the 
■fes  and 
panions, 
induce 
fore  all 
of  De- 


29 


i> 


elm. 


of  tho 


Museum  I  drew  from  my  pocket  hajf-a- 
dollar- handed  it  to  the  lady-cashier.  and 
stood  expecting  some  change,  as  I  under- 
stood  the   price   of   admission   was   nine- 
pence  each  ,,erson.     I  did  not  then  under- 
stand the  various  currency-terms  used  in 
different  States,  and  fancying  I  was  being 
cheated,   asserted  proudly  that    though  I 
was  only  a  boy  going  to  a  boarding-school  I 
was  not  to  be  taken  advantage  of  in  that  way 
"My  change,  Ma'am?"  I  demanded. 
"  You  have  none  to  receive,"  was  the  re- 

piy- 

I  was  now  fairly  angry,  but  at  that 
critical  moment  a  gentleman  tapped  me  on 
the  shoulder. 

"  My  little  fellow,"  said  he  in  a  kindly 
tone,  «  You  do  not  seem  to  be  aware  that 
nmepence  here  is  twelve  and  a  half  cents, 
therefore,  for  the  four  of  you,  halt-a-doUar 
IS  required."  He  then  explained  the  dif- 
ficult currency  question  quite  to  my  satis- 

taction,  and  thus  I  hteralK^  A^,.„z.  _„.   , 
f.     .,     .        .       .  "-v  "VMy/ie,  wisdom 

tor  the  first  tune  m  my  life 


CHAPTEE  m. 


Wilbraham  Seminary -A  Rival  -  Expulsion  - 1  Became 
Reckless -Leave  Home -Rum  and  Singing— A  German 
Acquaintance- The  Stewart  Club  —  Am  a  Runaway  Sailor 
-Pittsburg- Serious  Accident -Despair -Become  a  Deck- 
Hand-Vicissitudes- A  Step  in  Advance -I  Become  Clerk. 

The  next  morning  we  started  by  stage 
for  "Wilbraham,  and  were  soon  fairly  in- 
stalled in  the  Seminary.  I  do  not  deem  it 
necessary  to  give  any  particular  description 
of  this  sort  of  juvenile  learning,  nor  relate 
any  incidents  of  my  career  there.  A  few, 
however,  I  must  refer  to. 

Among  the  pupils  was  one  named  Bigc- 
low,  whose  abilities  were  so  much  on  a  par 
with  mine  that  we  always  divided  the  prizes 
for  which  we  contested.  With  him  I  be- 
came very  intimate,  until  I  entered  on 
wild  courses.     The  consequence  was,  I  was 


'ttSF 


A 


JB 


Beoamo 
L  German 
ray  Sailor 
le  a  Peck- 
me  Clerk. 

• 

T  Stage 
"\y  in- 
leem  it 
ription 
relate 
A.  few, 

Bige- 
a  par 
prizes 
I  be- 
id  on 
I  was 


t 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER.  31 

expelled,  but  at  the  intercession  of  my 
father  was  taken  back  again.  Again  I  left 
the  beminary  and  became  reckless.  I  made 
up  my  mind  to  travel,  and  in  company  with 

one  U ,  a  German,  started  from  home. 

agreemg  that  when  he  could  get  work  as  a 
saddler  that  he  should  find  me  in  food  and 
rum  and  when   he   had  nothing   to  do,  I 
Should  exercise  my  talents  as  vocalist.    We 
reached    Bordentown,   and   there    became 
members  of  the  Club  named  after  Commo- 
dore  Stewart.     From  there  we  started  in 
our  sailor  s  garb,  and  gave  out  that  we 
were  runaway  sailors,  and  that  I  had  been 
-unded  while  escaping,  showing  an  old 
_         n  proof  thereof.     In  time  we  reached 
t        ;  'f''^'"««.  where  my  companion  told 
the  tale  m  German  which  I  had  concocted. 
In^approachmg  Pittsburg  we  embarked  on 
a  Canal  Boat,  where  I  earned,  by  singing 
and    dancing,   about    eighty,  dollars,      if 

"  Sd.^^  '-''-'  -    ^   -"-   of  the 


32 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


>iii 


mn 


!    :     ihf 


One  day,  having  missed  my  companion, 
I  went  into  a  harness-maker's  shop  to  in- 
quire if  he  had  called  there.  A  little  girl 
in  the  place,  frightened  at  my  grotesque 
appearance,  screamed  aloud,  and  her  father, 
a  great  German,  weighing  over  three  hun- 
dred pounds,  coming  out  without  saying  a 
Word,  attacked  me  and  knocked  me  down. 
He  then  kicked  me  and  broke  three  of  my 
ribs.  For  this  the  Mayor  fined  him  ten 
dollars,  which  was  handed  to  me,  and  it 
was  such  a  God-send  that  I  would  gladly 
have  had  three  more  broken  at  the  same 
price. 

As  soon  as  I  had  fairly  recovered  from 
this  accident,  which  I  speedily  did,  thanks 
to  youth  and  a  strong  constitution,  I  began 
to  look  about  me  for  some  fresh  meanis  of 
procuring  subsistence.  It  is  no  easy  thing, 
let  me  tell  you,  dear  reader,  for  a  raw  youth 
without  any  definite  trade  or  profession,  to 
get  employment  in  a  commercial  city.  A 
person  applying  for  work  under  such  .  .1- 


*^173 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


33 


anion, 
to  in- 
le  girl 
tesque 
father, 
I  hun- 
ting a 
down. 
3f  my 
m  ten 
and  it 
gladly 
same 

[  from 
thanks 
began 
ani9  of 
thing, 
youth 
ion,  to 

y.    .i 

jh  ..i.- 


i^l 


cumstanccs  is  almost   invariably  asked, ■ 

"What  is   your  trade?"     Such  a  query 
was  put  to  me,  too,  many  a  time.     Now,  as 
vagabondizing  about  the   country,  at   one 
time  pretending  to  be  a  runaway  sailor,  at 
another,  singing  and  dancing  to  amuse   a 
gaping  crowd,  and  to  procure  meals  and  a 
lodging,  can  scarcely  be  called  a  "  trade," 
I  was  compelled  to  dodge  the  question  by 
broadly  asserting  that  I   could    "  do  any- 
thing."    Doing  "  anything  "  in  the  eyes  of 
shrewd    business,    practical    men,   simply 
means    "can  do   nothing,"    and   so,  after 
having   wandered   through    the  streets   of 
Pittsburg  until  I  was  foot-sore  and  heart- 
sore,  I,  one  forlorn  morning,  took  a  hungry 
stroll  by  the  river  side. 

A  busy  but  gloomy  place  is  that  smoky 
city  of  Iron  Foundries  —  the  atmosphere  is 
composed  of  dust,  smoke,  and  a  thousand 
villainous  odors.  The  dingy  houses,  trees, 
(where  there  grow  any)  canals,  and  the 
grimy-looking  faces  you  see  at  every  turn 


84 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREEB. 


would  not  be  at  all  calculated  to  raise  the 
spirits  of  one  with  a  full  stomach  and  a 
well-lined  wallet.     Fancy  then,  what  a  de- 
pressing influence  it  must  have  had  on  me 
to  whom  meat  and  money  were  strangers. 
While  I  looked  on  the  river  as  it  swept 
sullenly  by,  old  times  and  old  scenes  came 
vividly  to  mind.     The  home  at  Newark  — 
the  Staten  Island  School,  and  the  Seminary 
at  Wilbraham.     Then,  with  something  like 
remorse,  I  thought  how  I  had  neglected 
opportunities,  and  wasted  my  best  yef»r8 
in  frolic  and  in   folly.     But,  at  that   time 
I  was    never    sad    long.      As  I  strolled 
along  indulging  in  these  sad  reminiscences, 
my  attention  was  directed  to  the  long  line 
of   steamboats  that  were   moored  to   the 
banks.     They  looked  anything  but  inviting, 
but  were  one   and  all  dingy  and  forbid- 
ding—a sudden  thought  struck  my  mind. 
Here  I  can  do  nothing  —  what  if  I  tried  to 
gain  employment   on  board   une  of  those 
boats  ?    I  felt  such  a  place  would  be  very 


rm  I 


i-  I 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREEIl. 


85 


much  like  a  last  refuge  for  the  destitute ; 
but  then,  was  not  /  destitute  enough  ?  I 
had,  however,  health  and  strength,  Tnd  en- 
ergy, and  do  something  I  must.  My  mind 
was  speedily  made  up,  and  almost  before  I 
was  aware  of  what  I  had  done,  I  had  hired 
myself  on  board  one  of  the  boats  as  "deck 
hand." 

Here  was  a  startling  change  I  The 
quondam  pupil  of  a  Wesleyan  ^Seminary, 
and  an  aspirant  for  Yale  College,  trans- 
formed  into  a  rough  looking  handler  of 
casks  of  whiskey  and  barrels  of  pork  on 
board  a  southern  rivt;r  boat  I  It  was  terri- 
bly hard  work,  but  I  stuck  to  it,  and  faith- 
fully fulfilled  its  duties  until  I  changed  my 
position  to  that  of  Fireman. 

If  any  one  Avishes  to  form  an  idea  (it 
must  be,  I  suppose,  a  very  slight  one)  of 
what  Tophet  is  like,  let  him  occupy  such  a 
position  as  I  then  did.  The  spot  where  I 
stood  panting  and  perspiring,  feeding  the 
ever-hungry  furnaces,  was  not    "  a\ttle 


'A 


i\\ 


r*    i 


36 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


ill 

.hi 


W 


fiii 


'  ,1-1 1 


:  pi  III 

-  -'I  ji 


.:tt:,.  ill 


Heaven  below,"  but  quite  the  reverse.  In 
fact,  the  place  was  much  too  hot  to  hold 
me,  and  I  became,  not  without  reason,  dis- 
satisfied. Yet,  with  no  other  situation  in 
prospect,  I  had  prudence  enough  to  remain 
in  it  until,  as  Mr.  Wilkins  Micawber  says, 
something  better  should  "  turn  up  ;  "  and, 
sure  enough,  something  tJAd  turn  up  which 
relieved  me  from  my  unpleasant  position. 

One  day,  as  I  stood  near  the  clerk's  office 
musing  on  my  present  fortune  and  my  pos- 
sible fate,  I  observed  him  busy  making  up 
his  accounts.  "  Ah,  I'  thought  to  myself, 
how  much  better  I  should  like  such  an  oc- 
cupation than  the  menial  one  by  which  I 
am  now  obliged  to  earn  my  bread.  And 
then,  moved  by  a  sudden  impulse  I  address- 
ed the  clerk,  who,  like  the  clerks  of  steam- 
boats generally,  was  a  rather  high  and 
mighty  sort  of  a  gentleman. 

"  I  can  drive  a  quill,  too,"  said  I.  The 
gentleman  behind  the  desk  looked  up  from 


t!  . 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


37 


his  account  book,  and  surveyed  me  from 
head  to  foot.  I  did  not  appear  very  much 
to  advantage  in  my  Fireman's  costume  — 
my  hands  and  face  as  grimy  as  my  clothes. 
"  What  do  you  know  about  writino-  ?  » 
asked  he,  with  supercilious  expression.  ^ 

"  I  can  write  and  keep  accounts  too,"  I 
replied.  "  You  must  not  judge  of  me  by 
my  looks  or  dress,  unfortunate  circumstances 
have  placed  me  where  I  am,  but  I  have 
been  well  educated  and  have  seen  better 
days." 

"You  talk  as  though  you  had,"  the  clerk 
remarked,  "  and  I  have  a  great  deal  to  do, 
I  don't  mind  if  I  try  you." 

My  heart  leaped  with  joy,  and  before 
long,  washed  and  renovated,  I  was  installed 
as  second  clerk,  and  gave  entire  satisfac- 
tion. 

Here  was  a  change  for  the  better,  — a 
trifling  one  it  is  true,  but  yet  a  step  in  ad- 
vance.  Hitherto  I  had  been  exerting  only 
physical  strength,  but  now  my  talents  were 


r 
■i  . 


I 


f  - 


88 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


called  into  action.  We  went  to  Louisville, 
Ky,,  and  I  left  the  boat  there.  At  Bear- 
grass  my  friend  got  a  contract  to  make 
two  hundred  dozen  mule  collars.  I  loafed 
round  till  I  was  ashamed  and  then  went  to 
assist  him,  but  was  soon  seized  with  bilious 
fever. 


% 


CHAPTER  IV. 


I  become  Second  Steward  of  a  steamer -A  Stabbing  jucd 
Steward- Blsouit-making  Extraordinary- St.  Lours  dissi- 
pation-! improve  in  biscuits -Tlie  Captain's  caution - 
New  Orleans -Strange  adventure  with  a  Creole- 1  have 
the  choice  of  being  married  or  shot -My  escape  from  a 
Tigress  —  My  heels  save  my  head. 

On  recovering  from  this  severe  attack,  I 
engaged  as  second  steward  of  a  boat  bound 
to  St.  Louis,  saw  many  a  strange  scene 
enacted  and  learned  something  more  of  the 
world  and  its  buffetings.  The  head 
steward,  under  whose  orders  I  acted  was 
an  exceedingly  violent  and  passionate  man, 
and  being  of  a  rather  quick  temper  myself, 
I  had  much  difficulty  in  getting  along  with 
him.  However,  I  was  soon  relieved  from 
his  domination,  not  by  any  act  of  mine,  but 

VI    xxxo  KJWli, 


II 


40 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


m 


Every  one  who  has  travelled  on  those 
Southern    boats    is    aware   that    quarrels 
among  the  officers  and  crew  are  frequent. 
It  is  a  word  and  a  blow,  and  frequently  the 
blow  precedes  the  word.   The  head  steward 
on  our  way  to  St.  Louis  had  a  "  difficulty  " 
with  one  of  the  hands,  and  stabbed  him, 
the  consequence  of  which  was  that  he  was 
put  on  shore  by  the  Captain,  at  the  next 
landing.  "It  is  an  ill  wind  that  blows  no- 
body good,"and  the  truth  of  the  adage  was 
verified  in  my  case,  for  I  was  at  once  pro- 
moted to  the  vacant  head-stewardship. 

I  accepted  the  office  with  some  appre- 
hension, for  I  really  had  had  so  little  ex- 
perience in  the  duties  of  it  that  I  was  terri- 
bly afraid  of  making  some  mistake  which 
would  subject  me  to  ridicule  or  worse  ;  and 
it  was  not  long  before  I  committed  myself. 
Among  my  other  duties  was  that  of 
making  biscuits  for  the  cabin  table.  Now 
how  to  do  this  I  knew  no  more  than  how  to 
make    a    steam  engine,  but  keeping  my 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


41 


>> 


ignorance  to  myself,  I  determined  to  try, 
and  a  pretty  moss  I  made  of  it.  The  bis- 
cuits I  put  on  the  table  were  as  hard  as 
cannon  balls,  and  innumerable  were  the 
jokes  perpetrated  at  my  expense.  Some 
very  impulsive  gentlemen  flung  them  at 
my  head,  which  process  gave  me  a  striking 
proof  of  their  want  of  lightness,  but  did 
not  tend  in  the  least  to  improve  me  in  their 
manufacture.  With  the  drinkables  I  could 
get  on  very  well,  but  when  it  came  to  fancy 
bread  making,  I  was  terribly  at  fault. 
However,  I  managed  to  get  nlong  until  we 
arrived  at  f^t.  Louis,  when  I  left  that  boat. 
After  a  short  stay  in  St.  Louis,  my 
money  soon  growing  short  again,  in  conse- 
quence of  my  frequent  visits  to  grog-shops, 
I  procured  another  situation  as  steward  on 
board  the  boat  Stephen  Girard.  I  had  idled 
away  my  time  on  shore,  when  I  should 
have  been  improving  myself,  and  becoming 
qualified  for  my  new  sphere  of  action.    But 


I 


i 


42 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


future  ?  The  consequence  was,  that  I  was 
not  improved  much  in  any  way.  Cliance 
however,  did  for  me  what  ^  Tvo^ild  not  do 
for  myself,  and  it  fell  out  t        . 

On  our  way  up  the  river,  there  happened 
to  be  a  man  on  board  who  was  working  his 
passage.  He  was  very  poor,  and  remem- 
bering what  I  had  suffered  myself,  I 
rendered  him  some  little  kind  offices  and 
found  him  a  very  intelligent  person.  One 
evening,  while  talking  together,  I  happened 
to  montion  my  biscuit  failure.  He  said  im- 
mediately : 

"  Well,  you've  been  good  to  me,  and  so 
rilputyou  in  the  way  of  making  bread 
and  biscuits  —  I  was  a  baker  once." 

Here  was  a  chance  !  I  took  lessons,  and 
very  soon  my  biscuits  were  pronounced 
first-rate.  So  that,  the  reader  will  per- 
ceive a  kind  action  often  brings  its  own 
reward. 

I  returned  in  the  same  boat  to  New 
Orleans,    and    was    so    attentive    to    the 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


43 


passengers,  and  set  such  a  good  table  that 
I  became  quite  a  favorite  with  the  Captain, 
who  seemed  to  take  a  great  interest  in  me. 
As  we  were  approaching  the  Crescent  City, 
I  was  charmed  with  the  lovely,  and  to  me, 
novel  scenery  on  its  banks,  and  I  hinted  to 
the  skipper  that  I  anticipated  a  fine  time  in 
New  Orleans. 

"  You  will  have  to  be  very  careful  while 
there,  young  man,"  he  observed. 

"  Oh  I  "  said  I  carelessly,  "  I  guess  I 
can  take  care  of  myself,  I  am  not  afraid  of 
any  man." 

"  That  may  be,"  he  added,  "  Its  not  so 
much  against  the  men  as  the  women,  I 
would  warn  you  —  the  Creole  women,  I 
mean." 

"  I  said,  I  had  never  seen  much  of  them." 
"  And  the  less  you  see  and  have  to  do 
with  them,  the  better,"  went  on  the  Cap- 
tain ;  "  they  are  beautiful  and  fascinating 
as  angels,  but  offend  or  cross  them,  and 
they  are  devils  in  thpir  wmfh.     f^if^av  nlf^oi^ 


I 


44 


MT  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


m 


ht» 


of  them,  Sam,  or  you'll  get  into  a  scrape 
before  you  know  where  you  are,  or  what 
you  are  doing." 

I  promised  to  take  his  advice,  but  what 
young  man  situated  as  I  was  ever  will  be 
advised  ?  On  our  arrival  at  New  Orleans, 
we  lay  along  side  the  levee,  and  I  went 
ashore  to  see  the  lions  of  the  great  city. 

A  few  days   after  our  arrival,   a  very 
strange  adventure  quite  justified  the  Cap- 
tain's warnings  to  me,  and  convinced  me 
that  the  Creole  ladies  are  indeed  dangerous 
acquaintances.     The   following  occurrence 
may  read  like  a  bit  of  romance,  but  it  is 
strictly  true,  and  not  exaggerated  in  any 
respect  —  indeed,  in  these  memoirs  I  have 
rigidly  abstained  from  all  embellishment, 
and   attempted  to  tell,  in  all  instances   a 
"  plain  unvarnished  tale,"  for,  as  I  have  be- 
fore  remarked,  "Truth   is   stranger  than 
fiction." 

I  was  occupied  in  my  room  one  morning, 
when  a  Creole  lady,  dressed  in  the  height 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


45 


of  fashion,  came  on  board  and  said  to  one 
of  the  hands, 

"  I  want  to  see  de  steward  ?  " 

She  was  shown  up,  and  certainly  a 
more  beautiful  and  attractive  looking  wo- 
man I  have  never  seen.  She  looked^  over 
the  boat,  chatted  very  familiarly,  and  at 
length  asked  me  if  I  would  not  like  a  drive 
a  little  way  into  the  country.  As  I  was  a 
stranger,  she  would  be  happy  to  show  me 
some  charming  scenery,  <S;c. 

Forgetting  what  the  Captain  had  told 
me,  I  jumped  at  the  offer,  and  after  "  tidy- 
ing" myself,  accompanied  the  lady  on 
shore,  where  a  carriage  and  horses  were 
awaiting  her.  She  entered  it,  and  at  her 
invitation,  I  seated  myself  by  her  side. 

Away  we  drove,  I  not  a  little  flattered 
and  proud  at  having  so  gay  a  companion. 
Leaving  the  city,  we  dashed  into  the  coun- 
try, my  companion  pointing  out  the  various 
objects  of  interest  as  we  went  along.  We 
must  have  travelled  some    four  miles  at 


46 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


y  i 


1 ;  I  '  n 


ill!'!: 


least  before  we  stopped  at  a  charming  villa, 
surrounded  by  magnolia  and  other  trees, 
and  placed  in  a  beautiful  garden. 

"Dismy  house,"  said  the  lady,  as  she 
alighted  and  gave  the  reins  to  a  black  ser- 
vant. 

I  followed  her  example,  and  quitted  the 
carriage.  She  then  led  the  way  into  the 
dwelling. 

It  was  a  charming  place  —  elegantly, 
nay,  luxuriously  furnished.  She  very 
courteously  bade  me  welcome,  and  ringing 
a  bell,  ordered  refreshments. 

Quitting  me  for  a  short  time,  she  soon 
re-appeared,  dressed  in  an  elegant  but 
rather  loose  habit,  and  we  sat  down  to  the 
table  which  was  abundantly  spread  with 
cakes— jellies  — fruits  and  several  sorts  of 
wine,  of  which  we  both  partook  freely. 
The  sparkling  liquid  did  its  office,  and  I 
sang  some  of  my  best  songs  in  my  best 
manner.  She  also  vocalized,  and  who  so 
happy  as  we  ?     But  this  state  of  thino-s 


mmm 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


47 


i! 


was  too  pleasant  to  last,  and  the  end  came 
in  a  very  unexpected  way  and  manner. 

Rising  suddenly  from  her  seat,  the  Creole 
went  to  a  cupboard  and  produced  two 
boxes,  which  she  placed  beside  her.  Look- 
ing fixedly  at  me,  she  then  made  the  fol- 
lowing  startling  announcement. 

"  Monsieur  Steward.  Sare,  I  like  you,  and 
you  must  marry  me.  Dis  house  and  all 
dat  is  in  it  is  mine.  You  marry  me  and  it 
shall  be  yours." 

The  offer  was  so  unexpected  and  strange 
that  I  was  quite  taken  aback,  and  I  mutter- 
ed something  about  being  obliged  ^o  decline 
the  honor,  or  words  to  that  effect.  I 
thought  that  the  wine  and  her  company  for 
a  short  time  were  well  enough,  but  as  for 
marrying  a  strange  Creole  lady  —  that  was 
carrying  the  joke  a  leetle  too  far  I 

On  my  refusal,  her  large  black  eyes 
blazed  with  anger.  She  opened  one  of  the 
boxes  and  took  out  a  pistol.  I  saw  mis- 
chief was  brewing,  and  by  a  sudden  move- 


48 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


'I 


li 


ment,  possessed  myself  of  the  other  weapon 
and  retreated  towards  the  door.  She 
held  her  pistol  pointed  at  me,  and  I 
never  took  my  eyes  from  hers  for  a  mo- 
ment. I  had  heard  that  wild  beasts  were 
cowed  in  a  similar  way,  and  this  woman 
seemed  as  ferocious  as  any  tigress. 

"  You  shall  marry  me,"  she  exclaimed, 
"  or  I  will  shoot  you  where  you  stand." 

Here  was  a  pretty  situatioxi  to  be  in,  and 
anxious  enough  was  I  to  escape  from  it. 
But  had  I  turned  and  opened  the  door,  she 
would  have  shot  me  down  like  a  dog  —  had 
I  shot  her,  who  could  tell  what  my  fate 
would  have  been  at  the  hands  of  her  ser- 
vants ?  Fortunately  I  retained  my  presence 
of  mind,  and  that  served  me  at  this  pinch. 

She  stood,  as  I  said  fronting  me ;  behind 
her  was  the  fire-place.  We  were  both 
glaring  into  each  other's  eyes,  the  Creole 
by  this  time  maddened  almost  into  frenzy. 
I  stood  with  my  back  close  to  the  door,  my 
right  hand  grasping  the  pistol  — my  left 


MY  INTEMrKRATE  CAKEKR. 


49 


behind  my  back,  holding  the  knob  of  the 
lock.  A  sudden  thought  struck  mc,  and 
assuming  a  look  of  horror,  I  pointed  to  the 
etove,  and  exclaimed  suddenly,  "  Voyez  la 

She  .vas  thrown  off  her  guard,  and 
fancymg  her  dress  had  caught,  perhaps, 
looked  round.     Then  was  my  opportunity  I 

Quick  as  lightning  I  turned  the  handle, 
opened  the  door    and    rushed  out.    For- 
Innately  the  outer  door  was  open,  and  I 
was   the  next   moment  in  the   open   air, 
running    for  my  life.      I  knew  not   what 
agents  — men,  or  dogs,  she  might  have  to 
send  after  me,  and  I  kept  on  at  the  top  of 
my  speed,  never  once  daring  to  slacken  my 
pace,  or  look  behind  me.      On  —  on  —  on, 
expecting  every  moment  to  be  brought  down 
by  a   bullet    or    blood-hound  I     For  four 
miles  I  kept  on,  and  then  the  spires  of  JSTe w 
Orleans  came  in  sight,  and  I  felt  safe  ;  but 
I  thought  it  would  be  the  wisest  course  to 
keep  away  from  my  own  boat  for  the  pre- 


50 


II 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAEEEK. 


sent  at  least,  for  fear  some  of  the  Creole's 
people  might  entrap  and  murder  me,  as  in 
such  cases  they  will,  if  possible,  be  revenged. 
So  I  got  on  board  another  boat  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Baton  Rouge,  from  which  place  I 
soon  after  sailed  and  joined  my  own  boat 
at  a  landing  above  New  Orleans. 

This  adventure  had  a  great  deal  of 
mystery  about  it,  which  I  never  could 
fathom ;  indeed,  I  quitted  those  parts  so 
soon  after  its  occurrence  that  I  had  no  op- 
portunities for  investigation.  I  have  re- 
lated the  true  and  bare  facts,  and  must 
leave  the  reader  to  form  his  own  con- 
jectures respecting  it. 


\. 


CHAPTER  V. 

A  22d  of  February  Speech- 1  begin  to  Meditate  ~  Reaolvo  to 
visit  my  Father  -Thomas  H.  Benton  and  his  Kindness-1 
visit  Uome  -  Master  Beals- A  Partnership- Singing- 
Dancing  and  Vagabondizing  generally- Drink  to  drown 

care  -  Join  Mr.  La  B . — Partial  success  —  La  B puts 

mo  in  a  fix  —  Canal-boat  life  —  The  "  Water-Mellon-Patch  » 
song— Success  and  Drink  again— Love. 

During  mj  steamboat  life  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, I  fell  in  with  many  strange  and  some 
great  characters.       I  will  relate  one    ad- 
venture.     On   the   22d   of  February  we 
were  going  to  St.  Louis.     The  ladies  and 
gentlemen  had    their    celebration  in    the 
cabin,  and   we  deck  hands  had  ours   for- 
ward.    We   had  plenty  of  drink,  and  as 
my  talents  were  known  by  my   fellows,  I 
was  called  on  to  make  the  oration.     I  hap- 
pened  to  be  in  good  talking  humor,  and 
really  may  say,  without  vanity,   made   a 
good  speech. 


m^ 


62 


,  i 


I 


SI 


:•! 


I  i!l 


ii 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


During  its  delivery  manj  of  the  ladies 
and  gentlemen  came  forward  and  listened. 
When  I  had  finished,  a  tall,  imposing  look- 
ing personage  came  and  asked  who  I  was, 
and  as  he  said  he  had  been  much  struck  by 
such  a  speech  from  a  deck-hand,  I  told  him 
I  had  moved  in  a  far  different  position,  and 
he  said, 

"  When  we  arrive  at  St.  Louis,  come  to 
my  house,  but  come  after  dark,  and  I'll 
furnish  you  with  clothes,  and  the  means  of 
getting  back  to  your  father.  Here  is  my 
address,"  and  he  wrote  it  in  pencil  on  a 
scrap  of  paper. 

The  "  after  dark  "  wounded  my  pride 
sadly,  but  I  determined  to  avail  myself  of 
his  kind  offer.  On  the  paper  was  written, 
"  Thos.  II.  Benton,"  with  the  address. 

When  I  landed,  however,  I  got  drunk 
and  forgot  all  about  my  kind  would-be 
benefactor,  I  never  saw  him  after.  I 
dare  say  he  only  remembered  me  as  some 
incorrigible  rascal  who  was  past  praying 
for. 


1 
( 
1 

s 
h 

a 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


53 


I  now  began  to  get  tired  of  Mississippi 
steam-boating,  mj  restless  disposition  would 
not  allow  me  to  follow  one  pursuit  for  any 
great  length  of  time,  and  my  opportunities 
for  indulgence  in  ardent  liquors,  had  beei; 
so  sedulously  improved,   that  I  had   got 
pretty  much  used  up.     My  talents  for  sing- 
ing,  mimicry  and  dancing  had  led  me  into 
society  which  was  by  no  means  calculated 
either  to  improve  my  mind  or  my  morals. 
Petted  and  flattered,  I  lost  all  reHsh  for 
better   company;    but  even   this   state   of 
things  soon  wearied  me,  and  at  times  con- 
science  would  not  be  silenced,  and  sternly 
rebuked  me  for  thus,  in  the  morning  of  life, 
wasting  my  best  energies. 

"  I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  father,"  said 
the  Prodigal  Son,  and  in  a  similar  spirit  I 
determined  to  visit  my  only  parent.  Nature 
in  my  calmer  moments,  prevailed  over  dis- 
sipation. I  longed  to  see  once  more  the  old 
home  and  the  thousand  familiar  things  con- 
nected therewith.  So  I  started  for  New- 
ark, and  was  kindly  received. 


64 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


^  Here  I  staid  for  a  few  weeks,  and  for  a 
time  determined  to  profit  by  the  good  ad- 
vice which  my  father  gave  me.  But  roving 
habits  are  not  easily  eradicated,  and  the 
old  longing  for  an  uncertain  and  vagabond 
life  returned  with  such  force  that  at  length 
I  yielded  to  its  influence. 

I  had  now  formed  acquaintance  with  two 
young  men  whom  I  shall  term  Master  B-als 

and  Y ,  and  in  their  company  I  started 

from  home  once  more.  We  had  no  money, 
but  our  plan  was  to  sing  and  dance  our  way 
to  Albany.  After  many  vicissitudes  we 
arrived  in  that  city  literally  penniless,  but 
a  few  exhibitions  of  my  talent  in  grog-shops 
and  dancing  saloons  soon  brought  in  enough 
to  enable  me  to  get  some  handbills  printed, 
and  then  we  started  on  a  concert  exhibition 
along  the  line  of  the  Erie  Canal. 

It  was  a  hand-to-mouth  sort  of  living  to 
say  the  best  of  it.  One  day  we  were  flush 
of  money,  and  the  next,  perhaps,  were 
without  a  cent.     But  somehow  or  other  we 


i 


W.-^-r- 


i 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


55 


I 


managed  to  get  along,  though  how  we  did 
so,  is  at  this  day  a  wonder  to  me.  Many 
and  many  a  time  while  making  my  audi- 
ences scream  with  laughter  at  my  jokes 
and  funny  stories,  I  have  had  an  aching 
heart  under  my  waistcoat ;  but  the  necessi- 
ties of  the  moment  and  a  glass  of  grog,  too 
often  drowned  dull  care,  and  in  intoxication 
I  found  oblivion  for  the  time.  While  on 
this  Erie  Canal  Expedition,  we  fell  in  with 

a  Mr.  La  B ,  who  was  "  on  the  tramp" 

like  ourselves.  He  had  his  wife  with  him, 
and  he  proposed  that  we  should  join  our 
forces  and  travel  in  company.  He  was  a 
plausible  fellow  and  held  out  so  many  in- 
ducements that  at  length  I  agreed  to  his 
proposition,  so  we  became  partners,  en- 
larged our  show,  and  travelled  together  un- 
til we  reached  Buffalo. 

I  fancied  that  I  had  made  a  good  hit  in 

allying  myself  to  La  B .     He  flattered 

me  a  good  deal,  spoke  highly  of  my  comic 

tiilATifsi     anrl   rlirl    rinf    fl-kv/vof    fr\    ft^oof    rv*^    f^ 

••——  —  --»— 'J     -■¥««vi.     ■<.**vt       iivrw      x\^xti"wU        VVJf       <;X'V>cllV      iXi\j        iiVJ 


56 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


4i; 


I    Ml 


i*''^ 


grog.  The  result  was,  I  exerted  myself  to 
the  very  utmost,  and  we  did  a  good  busi- 
ness. Now,  thought  I,  after  floatingTn 
fortune  s  uncertain  tide  so  long,  I  begin  to 
touch  ground  at  last.  But  alas !  I  was  soon 
to  experience  the  treachery  of  fortune  and 

the  worthlessness  of  some  kinds  of  friend- 
snip. 

One   fine  morning,  while  in  Buffalo,  I 

wished  to  speak  with  Mr.  La  B on 

business,  and  wen'  ,o  his  bearding  house. 

helo^^er""'    "''*'^^^~-*^-'^- 

"Well,  no  matter,  Mrs.  La  B will 

do  as  well.  *" 

''f;^!7*^-5*er,"  was  the  reply, 
and  I  fancied  I  saw  a  sly  expression  on  the 
face  of  the  boarding-house  keeper. 

«  ^\r*'f"/''^'^^'-'»'<Jo  you  think  ?  » 
^^^asm,ghty^^^,,^„jg^^^^„ 

see  him  1  'f  t'   ^P^^'^'^tly.  "I  must 
see  him  soon,  for  I  wa^t  him  particularly." 

J^hen  you  U  have  to  look  him  up  Mister, 


\ 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAEEEB. 


67 


4 


and  I  calculate  you'll  find  that  a  hard  thing 
to  do.  Fact  is,  he  and  his  wife  have  cleared 
out  without  paying  anybody." 

Here  was  a  blow  I    La  B had  indeed 

"  sloped,"  leaving  me  and  my  two  compan- 
ions penniless.  But  it  was  of  no  use  grumb- 
ling; so  after  getting  a  few  quarters  to- 
gether we  left  Buffalo,  on  the  canal  boat, 
hoping  to  earn  enough  by  amusing  the  pas- 
sengers and  people  along  the  line,  to  enable 
us  to  reach  Syracuse. 

At  that  time  political  strife  ran  high,  and 
I  thought  it  would  be  as  well  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  crisis.     There  were  a  great 
many  passengers  on  board  who  were  going 
to  a  convention  or  some  political  meeting  of 
that  kind.    I  had  a  knack  of  ready  rhyming 
and  was  enabled  to  write  songs  to  order, 
with  great  facility,  so  I  now  began  to  com- 
pose and  sing  political  comic  songs,  which 
made  me  quite  popular.     One  little  incident 
which  many  will  perhaps  remember  occur- 
red, induced  me,  assisted  bv  Master  Beals. 


58 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


'3(1 


to  write  a  song,  destined  to  acquire  consid- 
erable notoriety.     It  was  called  "  the  Water 
Melon  Patch,"  and  referred  to  a  predatory 
excursion  of  a  certain  party  which   shall 
now   be   nameless.     This  song  I  and  my 
friend  Beals  sang  on  the   boat  and  else- 
where and  it  took  amazingly,  so  much  so 
that  I  ^coUected  about  one  hundred  and 
nmety  dollars  on  one  occasion.    I  was  now 
a  perfect  Croesus,  and  to  secure  my  money 
on  one  occasion,  I  buried  it  in  a  manure' 
heap,  lest  I  should  be  robbed. 

Notwithstanding  all  my  precautions,  how- 
ever, I  did  not  long  retain  my  riches.     The 
fdage,  hght  come -light  go,  was  strik- 
ingly exemplified  in  my  case.     I  could  not 
leave  liquor  alone,  and  I  was  one  of  those 
who  cared  nothing  for  cash  when  half  seas 
over.     This,  my  drinking  companions  knew 
weU  enough,  and  they  never  quitted  me, 
untd  I  came  to  my  last  dollar,  when  I  was 
left  to  myself  to  cure  my  folly. 
At  Syracuse  I  remained  some  Uttle  time 


\i 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


69 


picking  up  a  bare  subsistence,  and  then, 

with  B for  a  companion,  we  travelled 

through  portions  of  Western  New  York, 
still  singing  and  dancing,  but  giving  in  ad- 
dition, exhibitions  of  ventriloquism,  and 
sleight-of-hand  tricks,  in  fact,  I  became  a 
Magician!  We  did  pretty  well  at  this 
business,  but  my  drinking  habits  quite  pre- 
vented me  from  saving  any  money  against 
a  rainy  day.  I  acted  in  accordance  with 
the  proverb,  "  Sufficient  for  the  day  is  the 
evil  thereof,"  and  so  was  continually  coming 
to  grief.  Thus  matters  went  on  until  we 
reached  a  place  called  Dayanville,  where 
another  change  of  fortune  awaited  me. 

As  though  we  had  not  troubles  enough 
already  to  contend  with,  my  companion 
Beals  must  needs  add  to  them  by  falling 
in  love.  At  the  town  I  have  mentioned  he 
became  enamored  of  a  young  lady  named 

Miss  G ,  and  although  I  did  all  I  could 

to  dissuade  him  from  indulging  in  dreams 
of  matrimony  when  it  was  as  much  as  he 


60 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


could  do  to  keep  body  and  soul  together, 
he  persisted  in  his  suit.  So  I  had  to  leave 
hun,  and  my  other  companion  soon  after 
started  on  his  own  account.  I  was  there- 
fore  once  more  left  alone  and  thrown  upon 
my  own  resources. 


1 


•^■:l>: 


I 


ler. 


ive 

*ter 
re- 

OQ 


« 


1 


\ 


CHAPTEK  VI. 

I  go  to  Canada— Montreal —Drink  and  Dissipation  — Good 
Resolves  Futile  — I  ridollorsobaolc  into  a  Cliurcli  and  get 
intoPrison- Desertion— I  Travel  to  the  Lalies- Weary 
Travelling — Buy  a  Canoe — A  Canoe  Voyage  down  Ihe  Long 
Saultand  Narrow  Escape  —  Messina  Point— Desperate  Con 
dittou. 

Quitting  New  York,  I  now  determined 
to  seek  my  fortune  in  Canada,  and  after  a 
journey  marked  by  more  adventures  than  I 
can  at  present  call  to  mind,  I  found  myself 
in  the  city  of  Montreal.  For  a  time  I  man- 
aged to  live  by  the  exercise  of  my  wits  in 
saloons  and  public  houses,  but  it  was  sorry 
work.  Till  this  time  I  continued  drinkinc, 
and  had  now  become  suclx  a  slave  to  the 
intoxicating  cup  that  I  was  literally  satu- 
rated with  liquor.  This  could  not  last,  and 
it  was  not  long  before  I  was  laid  on  my 
back  in  a  French  hospital.      There,   for 


62 


MT  INTEMPEBATE  CAKEEB. 


)■■.: 


Bome  little  time  I  remained,  lonely  and  des- 
olate enough,  making  many  good  resolu- 
tions, which,  I  regret  to  say,  I  forgot  aU 
about  as  soon  as  my  health  was  restored 
and  I  was  discharged  cured.  Like  the  dog 
I  returned  to  my  vomit,  and  plunged  into 
wild  excesses  more  desperately  than  ever. 

In  fact,  during  this  period  of  my  life  I 
was  scarcely  ever  sober.    I  had  little  money 
for  as  I  mostly  sang  and  danced  in  gro<.- 
shops,  I  received  my  reward  in  the  shape 
of  dnnk,  and  the  more  I  swallowed  the 
more  I  craved  the  liquid  fire.    In  some  of 
my  "sprees "I  did  the  most  absurd  and 
ridiculous  things,  and  frequently  narrowly 
escaped  severe  penalties.    As  a  specimen 
of  my  recklessness  and  fool-hardiness  take 
the  following  as  an  example : 

In  one  of  my  drunken  fits  I  made  a  bet 
that  I  would  ride  into  a  church  on  the  back 
of  a  pony  during  divine  service,  and  the 
celebrated  Roman  Catholic  Cathedral  of 
Notre    Dame  was  selected  as  the  scene 


il 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAKEEH. 


fl 


■  *j 


where  this  novel  act  of  equestrianism  was 
to  "come  off." 

Well  primed  with  Canadian   whiskey  I 
mounted  the  animal  amid  the  cheers  of  my 
cronies,  and  rode  boldly  up  to  the  great 
cathedral  doors.     Mass  was  being  perform- 
ed, but  undeterred  by  the  sacrcdness  of  the 
place  and  service,  I  spurred  my  Pegasus, 
and  boldly  trotted  in  before  any  of  the  at- 
tendants were  aware  of  my  desperate  pro- 
ject.    What  a  sensation  the  clatter  of  my 
pony's  shoes  made  on  the  stone  pavement  I 
They  were  heard  above  the  tones  of  the  or- 
gan  and  the  voices  of  the  Priests.     Had 
the  occurrence  taken  place  during  the  dark 
ages,  the  worshippers  might  have  regarded 
the  affair  as   a  miracle,  and  myself  as   a 
saint  — St.  George,  perhaps,  on  his  charger. 
But  alas  !  the  days  of  miracles  were  past, 
and  they  saw  only  a  drunken  fellow  on  a 
spree,  and  I  was  ingloriously  dragged  from 
my  steed,  taken  into  custody,  and  locked 
up  in  jail.     Those  who  ha.d  urged  me  on  to 


! 


64 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


i  f 


perform  this  feat,  or  rather  outrage,  taking 
especial  care  to  make  themselves  scar<^ 
when  I  got  into  limbo,  but  that  is  the  way 
of  the  world,  as  I  have  too  often  found  to 
my  cost. 

Fortunately  for  me,  a  good  Samaritan 
heard  of  my  case,  and  so  kindly  and  effec- 
,    tmly  mterceded  with  the  authorities,  that 
after  a  short  incarceration  I  was  liberated, 
but  my  adventures  had  made  me  so  notori- 
ous, and  brought  me  into  such  bad  odor 
especially  among  the  Eoman  Catholics,  that 
Montreal  became  a  trifle  too  hot  to  hold  me 
and  I  determined  to  go  up  the  river  St. 
J^awrence  and  try  what  I  could  do  in  the 
towns  situated  on  that  mighty  river,  in  my 
Old  profession. 

Leaving  Montreal,  I  travelled  on  foot  in 
the  direction  of  the  great  lakes.  It  was 
weary  work,  threading  one's  way  alone, 
through  those  almost  trackless  Canadian 
pine  forests,  or  dragging  my  weary  limbs 
along  bad  roads  and  over  mountains  bleak 


I    ; 


MT  INTEMPEEATE  CABEEE. 


65 


and  barren.    But  I  was  not  one  to  be  van- 
quished  by  difficulties,  and  not  abatin..  one 
jot  of  heart  or  hope,  I  pushed  steadily  on. 
bometimes  I  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  a  bed  • 
often  I  lay  down  in  a  barn  or  under  a  tree,' 
hungry  and  foot-sore.     Frequently  when  I 
arrived  in  a  town  or  yiUIag    and  had  played 
ott  my  mountebank  tricks,  I   imbibed   so 
much  whiskey  ttat  I  slept  the  heavy  sleep 
of  the  drunkard  I  knew  not  where.     I 
visited  both  Prescott  and  Ogdensburg,  and 
at  the  latter  place  bought  a  canoe,  thinking 
I  would  take  a  river  trip  and  stop  at  the 
places  on  the   banks,  for  I  wa*  tired  of  the 
terrible  walking.    I  got  the  canoe  cheap 
enough,  It  was  a  rickety  affair,  but  I  had 
grown  reckless  and  scarcely  cared  whether 
I  should  be  drowned  or  not.     After  pur- 
chasing some  whiskey,  eggs  and  an  old  um- 
breUa  to  shield  me  from  the  hot  sun,  I 
boldly  embarked,  knowing  nothing  of  the 
mighty  river  on  whose   surface  I  trusted 

myself.      I  took    nhar^nc    ft.-  ..,,.  „:i-x  i 

— '-- -^   ^"i  "ij  jjimt,  ana 


66 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREEIi. 


>F.' 


I.  ,■)  ^ 

1 

Ll.i 


paddled  away  as  contentedly  as  thouffh  I 
was  sailing  on  a  small  pond. 

For  a  time,  aided  by  the  current,  I  glided 
pleasantly  enough  down  the  river,  quite 
unaware  that  I  was  approaching  the  longest 
and  one  of  the  most .  dangerous  rapids  on 
the  St.  Lawrence.    Ah  I   how  glorious  it 
,    was  to  sweep  thus  pleasantly  along  without 
labor,  for  I  found  my  paddle  needless.     On 
1  went,  swifter  and  swifter.     Presently  the 
banks  seemed  to  fly  past  me  in  an  opposite 
direction  to  that  in  which  1  was  sailing 
and  I  could  hear  ahead  the  roaring  of 
waters  —  swifter  and  swifter  the  banks  re- 
ceded  from  my  view,  and  suddenly  I  was 
surrounded    by    seething,   roaring,  angry 
waves,  that  raged  and  roared  round  my 
frail  canoe  as  onward  still  I  dashed  down 
an  inclmeof  angry  waters,  that  as  I  looked 
behind  appeared  as  steep  as  the  peaked  roof 
of  a  house.     I  was  in  the  Long  Sault  ra- 
pids  I 

But  I  had  no  time  to  think.     I  clung 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


6T 


close  to  the  sides  of  the  canoe  with  des^  -r- 
ate  tenacity.     Now  I  was  being  dragged 
along  by  it  as  I  was  half  immersed  in  the 
waters,  and  then  astride  it  as  it  swept  along 
bottom  upwards.     I  was  driven  hither  and 
thither  like  a  shaving  in  a  whirlpool.     Oc- 
casionally I  would   glide    down   a   fall   of 
smooth   green    water    between   rocks,  and 
then   whirled   about    in   a   white   foaming 
cauldron   below.     But   still   on,   on   down 
that   fearful  incline!     I  cannot  remember 
how  I  got  into  comparatively  smooth  water 
at  last,  or  how  I  contrived  to  get  seated  in 
my  canoe,  but  wonderful  to  relate,  I  found 
myself  almost  close  to  Messina  Point,  where 
I  landed. 

A  man  came  presently  to  the  point.  I 
hailed  him,  and  pointing  to  the  wall  of 
water  down  which  I  had  come,  asked  him 
what  those  things  were  ? 

"  What  are  they  ?     Why,  the  rapids,  to- 
be  sure ;    but  where   the   deuce   did  you 

COmP.  frnm  9  '> 


,'i'. 

'■*«; 


iii 


fi 


IM 


hi 


fi^ 


^j.f 


68 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


"  Why,  I  came  down  'em  from  Ogdens- 
burg,"  I  replied. 

'^  That  won't  do;  no  living  man  ever 
com'd  down  'em  yet,  but  lots  have  been 
drowned  there.  They  do  say  an  Indian 
once  shot  that  rapid  in  safety,  but  /  don't 
believe  it." 

And  well  indeed  he  might  have  doubted, 
for  the  Long  Sault  Rapids  are  nine  miles  in 
length,  and  I  could  not  have  been  mora 
than  a   few  minutes  in  passing   through 
them.     At  that  time  they  were  considered 
unnavigable,  but  since  then  the  steamboats 
make  the  passage.    I  believe,  I  may  claim 
the  honor,  if  honor  it  be,  of  having  been  the 
only  white  man  who  ever  shot  them  in  a 
canoe.     There  is,  as  has  been  intimated,  a 
rumor  of  an  Indian  having  done  so,  but  it 
is  not  authenticated. 

The  good  people  at  Messina  Point  having 
become  convinced  of  the  truth  of  my  strange 
story  made  quite  a  lion  of  me,  and  I  was 
compensated  for  the  loss  of  my  eggs,  whis- 


>gdens- 

n  ever 
e  been 
Indian 
''  don't 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


69 


key  and  umbrella.  My  wonderful  escape 
did  not,  I  am  ^orry  to  say,  effect  my  refor- 
mation,  for  I  soon  fell  into  my  old  habits, 
and  became  more  reckless  and  drunken 
than  before. 


ubted, 
dies  in 
mora 
rough 
idered 
aboats 
claim 
en  the 
1  in  a 
ted,  a 
but  it 


avmg 
range 
[  was 
whis- 


I„ 


I  ilii 


M:  I 


I 


II     i 

mi  il 


!! 


ill 


mi    i 

LI  '  .  i 


LJ 
1 


I,  t 

:f  fj 


CHAPTER  VII. 

I  nrap  my  Canoe  for  Whiskey  -  Back  to  BuflUIo-  Desnair  - 
Attempt  8ui«Me  t„lce  -  Am  re«=„ed-  Ne„  Res^^lT 
go  Homeward  -  Terrible    DesUtutlcn  -  A  Lady-.  Kind 

Ci^'Tndr-/  ;r  "''"■'o'"^"'  -  ^»^^-^^ 

York!  *"  °''  ~  *  P'-«'J'°«»°  -  Beaoh  Now 

Again  I  visited  Montreal,  where  I  sold 
my  boat  for  whiskey,  and  plunged  into  all 
the  excesses  which  are  so  easily  indulged 
m  a  great  city.     But  my  resources  failing 
I  wandered  on  foot  back  to  Buffalo,  which 
I  reached  after  a  few  weeks  pedestrianizing. 
I  was  by  this  time  in  a  sad  condition. 
Almost  every  particle  of  pride  was  dead 
withm  me.    I  had  little  hope  for  the  pre- 
sent and  no  care  for  the  future.      Dissipa- 
tion long  continued  had  so  broken  me  down 
that  I  had  scarcely  energy  sufficient  to  en- 
able me  to  go  through  those  perforr.,nT-,ce3 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


71 


Despair  — 
Jsolves  —  I 
dy'B  Kind- 
Landlord's 
^each  New 


I  sold 
into  all 
dulged 
failing, 
which 
nizing. 
dition. 
i  dead 
3  pre- 
issipa- 
dowu 
o  ea- 
ances 


on  which  my  living  depended.      For  the 
first  time  I  now  began  to  despond,  and  so 
black  did  the  future  appear  that  the  idea  of 
putting  an  end  to  my  life  more  than  once 
suggested  itself.     I  was  intensely  miserable 
and  the  very  sunshine  appeared  black.     I 
grew   fierce    and  quarrelsome,  conceiving 
that  every  one  was  my  enemy,  and  the  con- 
sequence  was  that  my  hand  was  against 
every  man.     Than  I,  at  that  period,  a  more 
wretched  creature  did  not  exist,  and  rum 
was  the  cause. 

One  evening,  shivering  and  despairing, 
longing  for  a  drink,  but  without  the  means 
of  procuring    one,    I    went    ragged    and 
wretched  into  a  grog-shop  situated  near  the 
Erie  Canal.     I  sang  and  danced,  and  told 
stories  as  well  as  I  was  able,  got  some 
drink,  and  then  became  quarrelsome.     The 
consequence  was  that  I  was  cruelly  assault- 
by  the  drunkards  present  —  thrust  from  the 
store  and  kicked  into  the  canal.     From  this 
I  was  dragged  out  by  some  passers  by. 


m 


rti 


M 


'*3't' 


1 1! 


M 


iii 


72 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


which  I  was  sorry  for  at  the  time,  but  I  then 
made  up  my  mind  that  I  would  no  longer 
endure  such  misery  and  degradation. 

I  determined  to  drown  myself.      Fearful 
that  when  in  the  water  my  resolution  would 
fail  me,  I  concluded  to  tie  my  hands  to- 
gether, but  I  had  no  rope,  nor  money  to  buy 
apiece.    In  such  cases  men  are  cunning 
enough  and  amazingly  fertile  in  expedients. 
Passing  a  grocer's  store,  I  saw  some  sugar 
loaves  tied  about  with  strong  cord,  and  I 
went  in  and  begged  a  piece.     I  then  went 
to  the  light-house,  near  which  was  a  retired 
spot,   convenient  for  my  purpose.     After 
carefully  tying  my  wrists  by  the  aid  of  my 
mouth,  I    watched  my  opportunity  as   a 
large  wave  receded,  and  rushing  down  the 
beach,  flung  myself  as  far  into  the  lake  as 
possible  and  then  I  lost  all  recollection. 

But  I  was  not  to  die  yet.  How  I  got 
out,  I  cannot  tell,  but  on  recpvering  con- 
sciousness, I  found  myself  high  and  dry  on 
the  bank.    The  very  waves  had  rejected 


'il; 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


73 


I  then 
longer 

earful 
would 
is  to- 
;obuy 

nning 
lients. 
sugar 
md  I 
went 
3tired 
After 
f  my 
as  a 
I  the 
^e  as 

•  got 
con- 
y  on 
jcted 


me.  But  my  resolution  to  kill  myself  was 
not  broken,  and  having  called  at  another 
grog-shop,  and  procured  some  liquor  by 
singing  a  Cv'^mic  song,  [Heavens  I  only 
think  of  my  being  "  funny  "  under  such 
fearful  circumstances  1]  I  borrowed  a 
razor  under  pretence  of  shaving. 

Then  I  went  stealthily  into  the  back- 
yard of  the  groggery,  bared  my  neck,  and 
in  a  wild  moment  of  frenzy  and  utter 
despair,  drew  it  across  my  throat.  The 
blood  gushed  forth  and  I  fell  to  the  ground 
insensible.  There  I  was  discovered  and 
taken  to  a  house  near  by  and  cared  for. 
Providence  thus  once  more  preserved  me. 
The  scar  in  my  throat  will  remain  to  my 
dying  day  as  a  memorial  of  God's  infinite 
mercy. 

I  gradually  recovered,  and  now  made  up 
my  mind  to  go  home,  which,  however,  I  was 
almost  ashamed  to  do.  And  remembering 
that  I  had  left  a  sick  friend  in  Montreal,  I 
made  that  an  excuse  to  myself  for  return- 


74  MY  INTEMPERATE  CAEEEB. 


Hi 


111  ! 


\^ 


I 

i  I 


ing  to  Canada,  "^'o  .^fontreal  I  according, 
ly  wandered  on  foot,  forgetful  of  my 
recent  narrow  escapes,  carousing  as  usual, 
or  perhaps  more  than  ever.  Again  I  ran 
the  perilous  gauntlet  of  city  life,  and  when 
I  could  get  neither  money  nor  credit,  I 
sternly  resolved  to  go  home  and  die. 

And  before  long  I  started.      I  was  in  a 
pitiable  plight  enough,  and  so  broken  down 
that  it  seemed  scarcely  possible  I  could  get 
through  such  a  long  journey  as  was  before 
me.     I  had  no  shirt,  and  my  clothes  were 
ragged  and  travel  stained.     Still,  I  did  not 
despair,    but  tramped  along  the  lengthy, 
dreary  roads,  now  getting  a  chance  meal, 
but  more  frequently  going  without  any  food 
save  the  berries  I  picked  on  the  roadsides. 
After  many  toils,  I  arrived  at  the  boundary 
line  between  Canada  and  the  United  States, 
where  I  found  a  company  of  British  troops 
near  Eouse's  Point.     I  fixed  up  as  well  as 
I  could  manage  to  and  gave  an  entertain- 
ment, but  as  I  sang,  danced,  and  told  queer 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


76 


Jording- 
of  my 
I  usual, 
I  I  ran 
d  when 
ledit,  I 


18  m  a 
n  down 
uld  get 

before 
s  were 
lid  not 
sngthy, 

meal, 
ly  food 
dsides. 
mdary 
States, 
troops 
^ell  as 
3rtain- 
queer 


stories,  I  must  have  cut  a  very  dismal 
figur*  indeed.  But  poor  as  the  show  was 
it  benefitted  me. 

One  of  the  officers'  ladies  saw  and  pitied 
my  forlorn  condition.  This  kind  woman 
bought  some  calico,  and  made  me  a  coat. 
She  evidently  had  not  been  used  to  such 
work,  for  it  hung  about  me  like  a  bag  ;  but 
her  goodness  was  all  the  same,  and  I  still 
remember  her  with  gratitude.  A  trooper 
gave  me  a  pair  of  old  shoes  that  were  much 
too  large  for  me,  but  I  managed  to  keep 
them  on  my  feet  by  sticking  rags  into  the 
toes.  Another  soldier  presented  me  with  a 
cap,  decorated  with  a  small  pompon,  and  a 
shirt,  and  also  an  old  valise,  whi  h  I  stuff- 
ed with  shavings  and  strapped  i  cross  my 
shoulders.  Thus  equipped,  I  again  started 
on  foot  w)''i  more  than  five  hundred  miles 
between  me  and  New  Je  sey. 

I  had  not  long  proceeded  on  my  toilsome 
journey  when,  thoroughly  tired,  I  stopped 
at  a  cottage  and  asked  an  old  woman  for  a 


76 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


\k 


i 


!l 


ii 


drink  of  water.  She  invited  me  to  enter 
and  sit  down,  and  got  me  to  relate  some 
parts  of  my  story. 

"Poor  boy,"  she  said,  as  I  concluded, 
"You  much  remind  me  of  my  son  who 
died,"  and  she  burst  into  tears. 

Then  she  got  me  a  bowl  of  milk  and  left 
the  room.  Presently  she  returned  with  a 
flannel  shirt  that  had  belonged  to  her  son, 
and  gave  it  to  me.  It  was  a  great  comfort, 
and  I  left  her  cottage  with  grateful  feelings 
and  much  refreshed  in  body. 

Bay  after  day  I  trudged  on,  eaduring 
more  hardships  than  I  can  chronicle  here. 
At  length  the  steeples  of  Albany  cf^e  in 
Bight,  and  I  soon  entered  that  city  weary 
and  footsore  enough. 

During  my  journey  to  this  pl*r,?,  I  had 
all  along  buoyed  myself  up  wit>i  the  idea 
that  I  should  be  certain  there  to  pr.,cure 
assistance  on  my  way.  When  at  home  in 
Newark,  I  knew  a  man  whose  fwuiily  v/ere 
in  great  distress,  and  whom  I  had  assisted 


Hi 


\.t 


!■    ; 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


77 


0  enter 
e  some 

eluded, 
•n  who 

nd  left 
with  a 
3r  son, 
^mfort, 
belinga 

during 
!  here, 
ime  in 
weary 

1  had 

i  idea 
racnre 
tne  in 
v/ere 
sisted 


frequently.  Indeed,  to  furnish  them  with 
supplies  of  food,  I  had  committed  a  breach 
of  trust  and  ran  my  own  father  into  debt 
without  his  permission.  This  man  was 
now,  I  knew,  doing  well  in  Albany,  and  I 
apphed  to  him  feeling  the  certainty  of  his 
relieving  me. 

I  called  on  him,  but  to  my  surprise  he 
treated  me  coldly  enough  as  soon  as  he 
found  that  I  was  in  distress.  After  much 
hesitation  he  handed  me  a  pair  of  old 
gaiters  and  some  wretched  garment,  inti- 
mating that  that  was  all  he  could  do  for 
me.  I  turned  on  my  heel  in  disgust  at  his 
ingratitude  and  left  him. 

By  this  time  I  had  got  to  be  tired  of 
always  telling  my  old  stories,  and  I  cast 
about  to  see  what  new  sphere  of  occupa- 
tion might  be  open  to  me.  At  that  period 
phrenology  was  all  the  rage,  so  I  made  up 
my  mind  to  become  a  professor  of  that  art. 
I  accordingly  commenced  at  a  public  house, 
and  in  order  to  secure  customers,  offered  to 
examine  the  landlord's  head  gratis. 


,1!  I 


78 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER, 


m 

I'i    ! 


If 

f 

i 

:(!: 
:;:'! 

^ 

* 

w 


i 

h  • 


i 


iifHt 


He  was  a  great  big  burly  fellow,  who 
looked  anything  but  generous,  but  I  had 
seen  enough  of  human  nature  to  be  aware 
that  every  one  has  his  or  her  weak  point, 
and  that  they  are  most  assailable  on  that 
side.  I  saw  at  a  glance  that  Boniface  loved 
Battery,  and  accordingly  I  determined  to 
lay  it  on  thick.  Besides,  I  wanted  a  drink 
badly. 

I  began  feeling  his  head,  looking  very 
wise  all  the  time,  and  chattering  a  pseudo- 
scientific  jargon,  that  I  knew  no  more  the 
meaning  of  than  did  the  listeners,  but  as 
many  people  affect  to  admire  that  which 
they  cannot  understand,  I  was  at  once  set 
down  as  a  remarkably  smart  fellow. 

All  at  once  I  affected  to  be  wonder- 
struck.  "  Bless  my  heart,  what  a  wonder- 
fully developed  organ,  this  is,  to  be  sure  I 
Why,  in  all  my  experience  I  never  met 
with  anything  like  it !  " 

"What  is  it?"    asked  the  gaping  by- 
standers. 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


79* 


V,  who 

I  had 

aware 

point, 

m  that 

e  loved 

nod  to 

i  drink 

;  very 
seudo- 
re  the 
)ut  as 
which 
36  set 

mder- 
tnder- 
sure  I 
'  met 

I  by- 


"  Why,  the  organ  of  Benevolence  in  the 
landlord's  cranium.  He  must  be  a  philan- 
thropist and  no  mistake ;  if  it  were  not  so 
well  balanced  by  the  organ  of  caution,  I 
verily  believe  he'd  give  his  own  head  away 
if  he  could." 

The  landlord  smiled  a  smile  of  great  sat- 
isfaction, and  so  did  I  —  when  he  asked  me 
what  I'd  take  ? 

This  "  dodge  "  did  not  last  long,  for  I 
drank  to  such  an  excess,  that  one  night  on 
leaving  a  groggery  I  forgot  everything  un- 
til I  found  myself  in  a  lumber  yard  lying 
down,  and  felt  a  savage  looking  negro 
kicking  me  and  telling  me  to  get  up. 

Up  I  got,  and  I  suppose  procured  more 
drink,  but  cannot  certainly  tell,  for  on  my 
next  recovering  my  senses  I  found  myself 
lying  on  the  floor  of  a  steamer,  and  as  I 
was  told,  within  twenty  miles  of  New  York. 

How  I  got  there  I  could  not  then  tell, 
nor  can  I  now.  A  pretty  figure  I  cut. 
My  face  and   hands  were  begrimed  with 


f     i"  II 


80 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER, 


-      'i 

"4' 


Ik  ^ 


ML 

III 
I 


dirt  and  coal  dust.  My  calico  coat  was 
torn  up  the  sleeves,  and  I  was  literally  a 
bundle  of  rags.  Presently  the  captain 
carae  and  asked  for  my  fare. 

"  Fare,"  I  replied,  "  that's  not  fair  I  " 
The  wit,  poor  as  it  was,  attracted  notice, 
and   a    crowd    now   gathered    round   and 
cruelly  jeered  me.  * 

My  blood  was  up,  and  I  passionately  ex- 
claimed, "I  was  not  always  the  poor 
wretch  I  now  am,  and  the  time  will  come, 
when  some  of  you  who  are  mocking  me 
may  see  me  better  off  and  be  ashamed  of 
yourselves.'' 

This  attracted  the  attention  of  a  Southern 
gentleman  who  took  me  to  his  State-room, 
gave  me  a  new  shirt"  and  a  five  dollar  bill. 
He  was  a  tall,  and  I  a  little  rr.an,  so  that 
the  garment  was  very  much  too  large,  in- 
deed, and  generally,  it  was  a  decided  mis- 
fit. The  captain  also  came  up  to  me  and 
asked  some  particulars,  and  when  I  had 
communicated  them  he  took  my  hand,  and 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


81 


3at  was 
erally  a 
captain 


notice, 
Gid   and 


;ely  ex- 
3  poor 
.  come, 
ing  me 
Lmed  of 

>uthern 
i-room, 
ar  bill. 
30  that 
•ge,  in- 
d  mis- 
le  and 
I  had 
id,  and 


said,  «  God  bless  you ! "  and  ordered  me 
a  good  meal  which  I  was  sadly  enough  in 
need  of. 

My  assertion  that  some  who  jeered  at  me 
would  be  afterwards  sorry  for  it,  was 
prophetic. 

Years  afterwards,  I  was  lecturing  in  Bos- 
ton one  evening ;  at  the  conclusion  of  my 
address,  a  man  came  to  me  on  the  platform 
and  said : 

"  Mr.  Hewlett,  do  you  reccollect  me  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  "  I  replied. 

"  Well,  do  you  remember  being  on  board 
a  Hudson  river  steamboat,  not  quite  so  well 
dressed  as  you  now  are,  and  a  crowd  round 
you  laughing  at,  and  insulting  you  ?  " 

"  Very  well,  indeed." 

"  I  v/as  one  of  that  crowd.  You  said 
some  there  would  be  sorry  for  so  treating 
you,  and  I  am  sorry,  I  beg  your  pardon, 
and  now,  sir,  I'll  sign  the  pledge." 

And  he  signed  then  and  there. 

*         *  *  m  m  m 


82 


•;i    ■< 


i:    !i 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREEU. 


In  due  course  I  landed  at  New  York. 
The  Newark  boat  was  soon  to  be  off,  and 
with  my  ^ye  dollars  in  my  pocket,  I  strolled 
about  the  wharves,  picturing  to  myself  the 
delight  of  meeting  my  aged  father  again, 
and  of  resting  beneath  his  roof  after  all  my 
wanderings.    I  determined  to  become  stea- 
dy,  but  alas !  for  good  resolutions  when  they 
are  not  based  on  right  principles  I     Feeling 
thirsty,  (I  always  felt  thirsty  now)  I  went 
into  a  groggery  and  commenced  drinking. 
There   were   a  lot  of   wood-sawyers   and 
wharf-men  present,  and  in  the  fullness  of 
my  heart  I  treated  them.     All  thoughts  of 
home  went  to  the  winds,  and  then  I  re- 
mained drinking  and  treating  until  I  had 
spent  all  of  my  ^ye  dollars,  but  ten  cents, 
but  with  that  I  managed  to  get  to  Newark. 


rJ* 


CHAPTER  Vm. 


»Tr 


I  Return  to  Newark  -  Meeting  with  my  Father  —  The  Waah- 
ingtonianMovemeDt- Hear  a  Speech  and  niake  one  My- 
self- The  Turning  Point  in  my  Lifa  - 1  Sign  the  Pledge- 
The  Chain  Broken. 

I  CANNOT  describe  the  meeting  with  my 
father ;  he  had  heard  months  before  that  I 
was  killed,  and  believing  k,  he  now  re- 
ceived me  as  one  from  the  grave. 

At  this  precise  time  it  happened  that  the 
Washingtonian  movement  was  causing  con- 
siderable excitement  in  Newark.  Meetings 
were  being  held  regularly,  and  much  oppo- 
sition was  evinced.  As  soon  as  the  news  flew 
around  that  I  had  returned,  the  cry  among 
the  topers  w^s,  ^Sam  Hewlett  is  here, 
he'll  break  up  all  the  temperance  meet- 
ings !  '*    Others  who  still  had  my  true  in- 


84 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


><i 


terest   at   heart,   exclaimed,    "  Oh  I  if  we 
could  only  get  Sammy  !  " 

One  night,  out  o?  curiosity  I  went  to  the 
meeting  and  heard  a  man  speak  who  I 
knew  had  once  been  the  drunken  driver  of 
a  stage,  but  had  become  a  tee-totaller.  He 
made,  I  thought,  a  poor  speech,  and  on  my 
return  I  said,  "Father,  if  that  man  can  teU 
a  story,  I  think  Jean." 

"  Yes,  my  son,"  the  old  gentleman  re- 
plied, "  and  would  to  God  you  would  try 
it."  ^ 

"Well,"  I  said,  "if  my  friends  will 
gather  round  me  at  the  next  meeting,  I'll 
try  it,  for  I  begin  to  think  it  is  high  time 
to  change  my  mode  of  life."  I  was  sincere 
then. 

And  friends  did  gather  round  me.  On 
the  11th  day  of  August,  1842, 1  spoke  at 
the  Washingtonian  meeting,  and  signed  the 
pledge.  I  broke  the  accursed  chain  which 
had  so  long  bound  me,  and  stood  up, 
blessed   be    God,  a  free  man —  a  brand 


MY  INTEMPERATE  CAREER. 


85 


if  we 

k  to  the 
who  I 
'iver  of 
r.  He 
on  my 
Jan  tell 

an  re- 
Id  try 


snatched  from  the  burning,  and  an  earnest 
temperance  convert.  Among  the  friends 
who  so  nobly  rallied  around  me  I  must 
specially  mention  Capt.  George  Dunn,  of 
Newark,  whose  steady  kindness  to  me  I 
shall  never  forget. 

I  have  thus  related  my  career  as  a 
drunkard.  In  the  second  part  of  these 
memoirs  I  shall  describe  my  experience  as 
a  temperance  advocate. 


s  will 

ig,rii 

b  time 
incere 


.     On 

>ke  at 
3d  the 
which 
1  up, 
brand 


■r       * 

i 

I 

t          I 

'! 

M 

fart  Btm)f. 


-•-•-♦- 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


m  ill 


PAET  SECOND. 


I  %mpxum  Career. 


CHAPTEE  1. 

I  oommence  a  Temperance  Career—- Enoonragement'^  Deacon 
Grant  — Join  the  Washingtonians  —  Faneuil  Hall  — My 
Marriage  —  David  and  Golla,th—  •«  The  Little  Jersey  Gun"— 
The  Boston  Quartette  Club  —  Southern  Tour  —  Handsome 
Present  —  A  Sad  Accident  —  Ftiormous  Egg-Eating. 

I  NOW  proceed  to  narrate  some  of  the  in- 
cidents of  my  career  as  a  Temperance  ad- 
vocate. In  this  I  am  compelled  to  observe 
brevity,  or  I  could  fill  several  volumes  with 
my  experiences. 

It  was  not  long  after  the  delivery  of  my 
first  speech,  that  I  began  to  receive*  appli- 
cations for  my  services  from  various  auar- 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


^ 


A 


^ 


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PiiotogBphic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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90 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


Si    m 


Ux 


ters.  Platfoftn  practice  soon  gave  me  the 
requisite  confidence,  and  increasingly  crowd- 
ed audiences  proved  already  some  degree  of 
popularity.  Among  other  applications  I 
received  one  from  the  late  well  know 
Deacon  Moses  Grant,  of  Boston,  who  prom^ 
ised  to  aid  me  with  his  influence  and  sup- 
port. But  I  eventually  joined  the  "  Wash- 
ingtonians  "  from  a  sense  of  duty,  and  it  is 
with  great  pleasure  that  I  here  mention  the 
courtesies  I  received  from  Captain  Stacy, 
Eobert  K.  Potter,  Esq.,  Kev.  Edwin  Thomp- 
son, and  other  leading  members  of  the  body. 
I  am  happy  to  say  that  I  retain  and  recip- 
rocate their  friendship  to  this  day. 

I  now  frequently  spoke  in  Boston,  and 
with  increasing  success,  among  other  places 
in  Faneuil  Hall.  Having  made  arrange- 
ments for  gettmg  settled  in  life,  I  returned 
in  1844  to  Newark,  and  married  Miss  Mary 
Fitz  Kandolph,  of  Belvidere,  New  Jersey, 
a  brandi  of  the  same  family  as  that  of 
John  Randolph,  of  Roanoke.    The  union 


'<  'liiiiua 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CABEEB. 


91 


me  the 

crowd- 

gree  of 

bions  I 

know 

prom- 

d  sup- 

Wash- 

id  it  is 

:on  the 

Stacy, 

homp- 

body. 

recip- 

n,  and 
places 
range- 
turned 
Mary 
ersey, 
hat  of 
union 


was  a  happy,  though  a  short  one,  and  I 
may  here  add  that  my  wife,  with  my 
daughter  Pocahontas,  afterwards  accom- 
panied me  over  twenty-fi^  thousand  miles 
on  my  lecturiug  tours. 

I  should  here  mention  that  on  my  return 
to  Newark,  I  persuaded  a  friend  whom  I 
will  call  J.  J.  C,  a  gentleman  of  great  natu- 
ral talent,  and  entirely  self-educated,  to  ac- 
company me  to  Boston.  He  did  so,  and 
completely  astonished  the  students  and 
Faculty  of  Cambridge  University  by  a 
most  striking  lecture  on  Temperance.  Ha 
was  a  man  of  remarkably  original  power, 
but  he  lacked  confidence  in  himself,  and  re-* 
turned  home.  He  is  now  a  skilful  surgeon 
in  the  army. 

Soon  after  my  marriage  I  returned  to 
Boston,  and  again  lectured  frequently.  On 
one  occasion  1  was  announced  to  appear  in 
conjunction  with  Van  Wagner,  the  "Pough- 
keepsie  Blacksmith.'*  Van  Wagner  spoke 
first.     He  was   a  big,  powerful   man,  and 


mmn 


mam 


92 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


made  such  a  great  impression  that  when  I, 
ahnost  a  dwarf  in  comparison,  came  forward 
to  follow  him,  the  people  smiled  and  won- 
dered how  such  •David  could  follow  such 
a  Goliath  I  But  I  had  a  very  powerful 
voice,  and  soon  convinced  the  audience  of 
my  ability  to  stand  the  test.  The  next 
morning  the  Bee  came  out  with  a  report  of 
the  proceeding.  It  styled  me  "  the  lit- 
tle JERSEY  GUN,"  a  souhrzquet  which 
stuck  to  me  for  a  lone:  time. 

I  now  formed  a  connection  with  the 
"Boston  Quartette  Club."  We  had  re- 
commendations from  Drs.  Bigelow,  Chan- 
ning,  the  late  Governor  Briggs,  and  others, 
and  took  a  tour  in  the  New  England  States, 
during  which,  I  delivered  a  4th  of  July 
oration  at  Uxbridge,  Mass.  Our  success 
was  great. 

In  1848,  I  was  employed  by  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  of  the  Hunterdon  County, 
New  Jersey  Temperance  Society,  to  deliv- 
er twenty-two  addresses  in  that  county. 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


93 


rhen  I, 
)rward 
I  won- 
iv  such 
werful 
nee  of 
J  next 
)ort  of 

E  LIT- 

which 

h  the 
id  re- 
Chan- 
►thers, 
)tates, 
July 

iccess 

xecu- 
untj, 
deliv- 
untj. 


My  first  meeting  was  held  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian church,  at  Allerton ;  a  great  number 
of  anonymous  letters  were  written  to  me, 
saying,  if  I  came  my  Hfe  would  be  in  dan- 
ger ;  but  as  I  have  heard  that  barking  dogs 
seldom  bite,  I  gave  no  heed.     At  my  Al- 
lerton meeting,  the  church  was  filled  to  its 
utmost  capacity.     I  had  proceeded  but  a 
short  time,  when  the   mob  placed  a  huge 
log  beneath  the  window,  opposite  the  pul- 
pit;  the  log  was   bored   and  filled   with 
powder   and  the  match  applied,   when  an 
awful   explosion   ensued,   smashing  in  the 
windows,  and  nearly  filling  my  hat,  which 
was  beside  me,  with  broken  glass  ;  a  piece 
of  the  log  grazed  my  head  and  -stuck  in  a 
panel  behind  me.     The  meeting  was  soon 
over,  and  my  great  concern  was,   to  get 
out  without  being  recognized.     As  I  was 
passing  out  with  the  crowd,  I  heard  some 
one  say,   "Jim,  where  is  the  feathers?" 
another  voice  replied,  "  in  the  corner,  with 
the  tar ;  keep  your  eye  on  him,  Jim."    I 


94 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


w  m 


then  pulled  my  hair  down  over  my  face, 
took  off  my  spectacles,  turned  up  my  coat 
collar,  mashed  down  my  hat,  and  with  an 
awful  limp,  hobbled  by  them  unrecognized, 
and  ran  in  the  darkness,  until  faint,  I  fell 
down ;  but  seeing  a  light,  I  again  rallied, 
and  knocked  at  the  door  of  a  farm  house, 
and  found  I  had  run  three  miles.  I  was 
the  guest  of  a  farmer  four  miles  from  the 
church,  at  whose  house  I  had  left  my 
horse  and  buggy.  My  host  was  a  tender- 
footed  Temperance  man,  and  fearing  there 
would  be  a  row,  he  did  not  accompany  me 
to  the  church,  but  came  in  after  my  lecture 
had  begun.  He  was  a  man  who  much  re- 
sembled me  in  person  and  attire,  and  as  he 
was  among  the  last  to  leave  the  church,  the 
mob  thinking  it  was  I,  pelted  him  with 
addled  eggs.  I  was  mobbed  at  ten  other 
places  in  the  county.  I  particularly  wish 
to  acknowledge  in  this  place,  the  efficient 
assistance  rendered  by  Col.  Peter  J.  Clark, 
of  Flemington ;  especially  upon  one  occa- 


>  llttiiUI 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


95 


ly  face, 
ny  coat 
kvith  an 
agnized, 
t,  I  fell 
rallied, 
house, 
I  was 
om  the 
eft  my 
tender- 
g  there 
any  me 
lecture 
uch  re- 
d  as  he 
rch,  the 
m  with 
n  other 
ly  wish 
efficient 
.  Clark, 
le  occa- 


sion,  when  my  life  was  in  great  danger. 
Four  years  afterward,  by  invitation  of  the 
Colonel,  I  delivered  a  Fourth  of  July  ora- 
tion at  Flemington,  and  among  my  audi- 
tors, were  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  many 
of  whom  were  in  the  mob,  to  attack  me,  a 
few  years  previous. 

I  still  continued  lecturing  in  various 
parts  of  the  country,  and  in  jl849  received 
an  urgent  invitation  to  take  a  Southern 
tour.  The  health  of  my  wife  at  this  junc- 
ture was  poor,  and  as  she  was  suffering 
from  a  bronchial  affection,  I  thought  the 
opportunity  a  providential  one  of  removing 
her  into  a  warmer  climate.  Having  well 
considered  the  matter,  we  took  our  depar- 
ture, and  I  made  my  first  appearance  before 
a  Southern  audience,  at  Huntsville,  Alaba- 
ma. 

My  reception  was  gratifying  in  the  ex- 
treme, atd  T  spoke  to  crowded  audiences 
three  different  nights.  The  citizens  were 
so  well  pleased  that  they  presented  me  with 


96 


MT  TEUPBRAKCE  CABEEB. 


(i  11'^: 


■liiis 


a  purse  of  one  hundred  dollars.  From 
Huntsville,  I  ascended  the  Tennessee  river, 
and  made  my  next  appearance  at  Rome, 
Georgia,  where  I  was  received  with  the 
greatest  enthusiasm,  and  escorted  by  large 
numbers  of  citizens  from  the  cars  to  my 
quarters.  Here,  also,  my  lectures  were  ex- 
tremely well  received,  and  on  the  termina- 
tion ;>t  my  engagement,  a  committee  of  gen- 
tlemen was  appointed  to  accompany,  me 
sixty  miles  distance  to  the  next  scene  of  my 
labors.  These,  however,  were  for  a  time, 
to  be  unexpectedly  interrupted.  When 
we  were  about  nine  miles  from  Marietta,  an 
accident  happened  to  the  cars.  I  looked 
for  a  rope  to  pull  as  a  signal  of  danger,  but 
there  was  none,  and  in  my  alarm  I  leaped 
from  the  cars  and  broke  my  leg  badly. 

In  expectation  of  my  arrival,  a  band  was 
waiting  with  a  host  of  friends  to  meet  me 
at  Marietta,  but  I  entered  the  place  in  a 
sad  enough  condition.  The  doctors  said, 
as  my  constitution  was  good,  and  my  habits 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


97 


From 
s  river, 
Rome, 
th  the 
J  large 
to  my 
jre  ex- 
rmina- 
3f  gen- 
ay.  me 

of  my 
I  time, 
When 
itta,  an 
looked 
er,  but 
leaped 

lid  was 
3et  me 
e  in  a 
s  said, 
habits 


temperate,  I  should  recover,  by  careful 
dieting^  in  six  weeks,  but  at  the  end  of  six 
days,  I  was  in  a  wheel  chair  on  the  veran- 
dah I  During  my  confinement,  (twenty 
days)  I  consumed  two  hundred  and  twenty 
eggs,  besides  "  any  quantity  "  of  all  kinds 
of  cakes,  and  nothing  could  exceed  the 
kind  attentions  showered  on  me  from  all 
quarters. 

I  rapidly  got  strong,  and  as  the  anxiety 
to  hear  me  was  very  great,  and  the  enthu- 
siasm increased  by  sympathy  for  my  crip- 
pled condition,  I  agreed  to  speak  in  a  meet- 
ing house  before  I  was  quite  strong  enough 
to  do  so.  I  was  escorted  to  the  pulpit  by 
two  strong  negroes,  one  of  whom  stood  be-  * 
hind  my  chair  on  which  I  sat  in  the  pulpit. 
In  the  course  of  my  lecture  I  became  ex- 
cited, and  swung  my  leg  about,  so  that  I 
once  struck  it,  and  the  bone  not  having 
firmly  united,  I  so  injured  it  that  to  this 
day  it  is  irregularly  ossified,  and  affords 
ample  evidence  of  my  then  absorption  in 
mv  subiect. 


98 


MT  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


'      PI 


i    i! 


As  soon  as  I  could  hobble  on  crutches,  I 
prepared  to  leave  Marietta,  and  called  for 
my  bill,  which  I  expected  would  be  a  pretty 
formidable  affair,  but  to  my  surprise  neither 
landlord  nor  doctor  would  accept  of  a  cent, 
and  expressed  their  delight  at  having  been 
been  enabled  to  render  me  assistance.  Their 
kindness  I  shall  never  forget.  One  hun- 
dred dollars  were  presented  to  me  by  these 
whole-souled  people  ;  and  from  Marietta  I 
went  away  on  crutches  to  lecture  on  the 
sea-board  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina. 

In  all  the  places  I  visited,  great  crowds 
flocked  to  the  places  of  meeting,  and  I  made 
very  many  agreeable  acquaintances,  among 
others,  that  well  known  gentleman  so  uni- 
versally known  as  Parson  Brownlow,  of 
Knoxville,  Tennessee.  He  is  a  truly  noble 
character,  tall,  sharp-featured  and  decided 
looking,  as  indeed  he  is,  and  a  warm  friend 
of  the  temperance  cause.  I  first  met  him 
in  Savannah,  and  received  from  him  a  warm 
invitation  to  his  house,  where  I  spent  a 
week  most  pleasantly. 


jhes,  I 
ed  for 
pretty 
[either 
I  cent, 

been 
Their 

hun- 

these 
ietta  I 
>n  the 
)lina. 
rowds 

made 
imong 
10  uni- 
>w,   of 

noble 
ecided 
friend 
tt  him 

warm 
Dent  a 


CHAPTER  11. 

1  go  to  Charleston,  S.  C.  -  Great  Enthwiaam  -  John  C.  Cal- 
houn's  Fuoerul-ARough  Ride-Go  to  Pennsylvania- 
Harvest  Home  Temperance  Meeting  -  Return  South- 
i^T  tZ  "^"^^"^  *^  Horlcon  -Build  a  Drug  Store 
V^tt.  o'Wiib- Another  Southern  Viait  -  Go  West- 
Visit  Minnesota- 1  Marry  again. 

My  next  important  move  was  to  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina,  where  I  addressed  very 
large  audiences  night  after  night,  and  was 
very  kindly  received.     After  having  com- 
pleted  my  labors  there,  I  was  preparing  for 
an  engagement  at  Wilmington,  when  the 
celebration  of  the  funeral  of  John  C.  Cal- 
houn  occurred,  and  I  was  induced  to  re- 
main  and  witness  the  obsequies  of  a  man 
who  was  so  popular  that  it  was  facetiously 
remarked,  "if  Mr.  Calhoun  took  a  pinch  of 
snuff,  all  South  Carolina  sneezed."    The 
scene  was  very  impressive  at  the  funeral, 


100 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


the  very  spires  of  the  churches  being  draped 
with  black. 

The  landlord  of  the  place  where  I  was 
stopping  offered  me  a  pony  to  ride  on  in 
the  procession,  in  which  the  Temperance 
"  Sons  "  took  part.  But  I  had,  in  conse- 
quence, nearly  come  to  grief,  for  at  the 
noise  of  the  kettle-drums,  the  pony  bolted, 
fortunately  without  any  serious  injury  to 
his  rider. 

During  my  stay  in  Charleston,  I  received 
the  most  polite  attentions  from  the  Hon. 
Mr.  Tupper  and  others,  which  I  am  glad  to 
acknowledge  in  this  place. 

I  had  not  yet  been  able  to  leave  off 
crutches,  but  my  engagements  multiplied 
so  fast  that  I  was  obliged  to  make  my  way 
to  Pennsylvania.  I  met  my  family  at  Phil- 
adelphia, and  after  a  short  rest,  commenced 
a  series  of  harvest  engagements  in  the 
woods,  and  among  the  farming  community. 
After  having  assisted  at  many  Temperance 
Harvest  Homes,  I  returned  South  with  my 


MT  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


101 


family,  lecturing  in  most  of  the  large  towns 
and  villages  with  great  acceptance. 

In  the  following  summer,  as  my  wife's 
health  was  not  at  all  improved,  after  another 
visit  to  the  North,  I  concluded  to  go  West, 
and  the  year  1853,  fou^id  us  at  Horicon, 
Wisconsin.  Such  were  now  my  domestic 
anxieties  that  for  a  time  I  ceased  to  lecture, 
but  being  of  too  active  a  mind  to  remain 
entirely  unoccupied,  and  having  acquired 
some  knowledge  of  medicine,  I  built  a  store 
and  stocked  it  with  drugs  and  chemicals. 

This  went  on  for  some  little  time,  when 
my  wife  died,  and  I  was  left  alone  with  my 
daughter.  Previous  to  my  wife's  death, 
she  expressed  a  desire  that  I  should  sell  out 
and  resume  lecturing  again,  as  otherwise  I 
should  feel  more  lonely  than  if  engaged  in 
public  life.  This  step  I  accordingly  took, 
and  after  again  visiting  the  South,  took  my 
daughter  with  me  into  Minnesota,  and 
afterwards  placed  her  in  a  school  at  Hori- 
con. 


1 


102 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CARIItR. 


i 


While  lecturing  through  the  West,  I  re- 
ceived the  intimation  that  Mr.  Gough  had 
recommenced  that  I  should  fulfill  several 
engagements   for  which   his   services  had 
been  secured,  he  from  some  cause  having 
been  prevented  from  being  present.      In 
consequence  of  Mr.  Gough's  advice,  I  was 
engaged.     One  of  these  engagements  was 
before  the  Library  Association,  of  Iowa 
City,  and  this  led  to  my  introduction  to  a 
Miss  Helen  A  Pratt,  a  lady  of  considerable 
intellectual   attainments.     Miss  Pratt  was 
formerly  of  Canton,  New  York,  a  place  well 
known  as  the  home  of  Silas  Wright.     The 
introduction  vfas  followed  by  an  intimacy, 
and  on  the  3d  of  June,  1857  we  were  mar- 
ried in  St.  James'  Church,  Chicago.     This 
step  very  materially  conduced  to  my  hap- 
piness, and  bestowed  on  me  all  those  en- 
dearments of  home,  which  none   so  well 
know  how  to  value  as  they  who  are  com- 
pelled frequently  to  be  wanderers  from  it* 


K?  ii 


t,  I  re- 
gh  had 
several 
ia  had 
having 
t.  In 
,  I  was 
its  was 

Iowa 
m  to  a 
lerable 
tt  was 
56  well 
The 
imacy, 
5  mar- 

This 
y  hap- 
se  en- 
a  well 

com- 


CHAPTEE  m. 

Another  Leotoring  Tour  —  Excitoment  in  tho  South — Opelika 
—  Narrowly  escaped  being  hanged  for  an  Abolitionist- 
Am  released  —  Vigilance  Committee  —  Change  at  Colum- 
bus —  Return  to  Wisconsin—  Re-risit  Newark  —  Visit  Bos- 
ton —  Changes  there  —  Visit  Canada  and  British  Proyinces. 

It  was  not  long  before  I  again  set  out  on 
a  lecturing  tour,  in  company  with  my  wife. 
At  this  time,  such  was  the  excitement  in 
the  Southern  States  that  it  was  extremely 
hazardous  for  a  northern  man,  whatever  his 
business  might  be,  to  travel  through  them. 
I  fully  experienced  this  "  difficulty "  at  a 
place  called  Opelika,  in  Alabama. 

In  consequence  of  being  subjected  to  the 
shafts  of  personal  malignity,  I  was  de- 
nounced by  the  Vigilance  Committee  at 
Opelika,  as   a  Northern  Abolitioniet,    al- 

thousrh  I  had  strictlv  confined  mv  lahnrs 
^^  ^    — ^  


ii 


104  MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


11 


111! 

iliili! 


n 


ft, 

Nil 


to  the  temperance  cause.  I  was  in  the 
utmost  peril,  and  preparations  were  actual- 
ly being  made  to  hang  me  by  an  infuriated 
mob  which  demanded  that  my  "heart 
should  be  cut  out,"  and  that  over,  savage 
and  (to  me)  unpleasant  liberties  should  be 
taken  with  my  abdominal  viscera. 

It  may  easily  be  conceived  that  in  such 
a  state  of  affairs,  my  feelings  were  any- 
thing but  agreeable.  To  reprieve  myself, 
I  gave  a  Masonic  sign,  and  used  every 
effort  I  could  to  impress  the  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee with  the  fact  that  private  malice 
had  misrepresented  me,  and  in  this  I  suc- 
ceeded to  the  important  extent  of  saving 
my  neck. 

To  make  sure  of  my  doing  no  "  aboli- 
tion mischief,"  however,  it  was  settled  that 
certain  members  oi  the  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee should  accompany  me  to  my  next 
station  —  Columbus,  Georgia — and  into 
that  city  I  was  so  conducted,  a  city  in 
which  ten  years  before,  I  had  been  nresent- 

-  - 


-.w*' 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREEE.  105 


ed  with  a  gold  headed  cane,  and  one  hun- 
dred   dollars  wrapped   round  the    handle. 
I  now  found  that  I  could  do  little  good 
for  the  temperance  cause  in  the  South  in  the 
midst  of  so  such  excitement,  and  accord- 
ingly returned  to  Wisconsin.    After  look- 
ing to  some  farming  interests  there,  1  took 
a  lecturmg   tour   through  Michigan,  and 
then  with  my  wife  and  daughter,  I  re-visit- 
ed Newark,  whence,  after  a  pleasant  season 
with  my  father  and    friends,  I  departed 
for  Boston. 

One  great  reason  for  locating  myself  in 
the  "  Athens  of  America  "  was,  that  there 
I  could  obtain  the  best  education  for  my 
daughter,   whose  musical    talents    already 
assured  me  that  all  pains  taken  for  her  cul- 
ture would  be  well  bestowed  ;  and  another 
reason    might  be   added  — my  increasing 
engagements  in  Massachusetts,  Maine,  New 
Hampshire,    and    the    British    Provinces, 
rendered  it  necessary  that  I  should  reside 
in  some  eentrai  locality  such  as  Boston. 


106 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREER. 


u     ,  a 


I  :l 


Some  years  had  elapsed  since  my  first 
visit  to  Boston,  and  I  found  many  changes 
had  occurred  during  the  interval.  A 
different  race  of  temperance  professors  had 
sprung  up,  but  by  many  of  my  old  friends  I 
was  remembered  and  warmly  welcomed. 

After  lecturing  for  a  short  time  in  Massa- 
chusetts, I  proceeded  on  a  tour  through 
Canada  and  the  British  Provinces.  In  all 
the  principal  towns  I  met  with  encourage- 
ment and  success,  and  experienced  the 
greatest  kindness  from  influential  and  warm 
advocates  of  the  cause,  among  whom  I  may 
mention  the  Hon.  S.  L.  Tilley,  Provincial 
Secretary  of  New  Brunswick,  Hon.  John 
Dougall,  of  Montreal,  W.  H.  A.  Kean, 
Esq.,  W.  W.  Wedderburn,  Esq.,  C.  D. 
Everett,  Esq.,  and  O.  J.  Wetmore,  all  of 
St.  Johns,  and  I  wish  also  to  acknowledge 
the  unvaried  kindnesses  I  received  from 
Professor  Calvin  E.  Stowe,  of  Andover, 
and  J.  Stimson,  Esq.,  whose  heart  and 
Burse  are  ever  onen  to  the  noble  work. 


MY  TEMPERANCE  CAREER.  107 


ay  first 
jhanges 
al.  A 
ors  had 
riends  I 
»med. 
Massa- 
:hrough 
In  all 
ourage- 
;ed  the 
d  warm 
a  I  may 
ovincial 
Q.  John 
Kean, 
C.  D. 
,  all  of 
>wledge 
d  from 
adover, 
irt  and 


I  have  thus  told  my  "  plain  unvarnished 
story."  I  have  without  reserve  spoken  of 
my  wasted  youth,  in  the  hope  my  narrative 
may  serve  us  a  warning. 

**  Those  days  are  gone. 
And  it  has  pleased  high  heaven  to  crown  my  life 
With  such  a  load  of  happiness,  that  at  times 
My  very  soul  is  faint  with  bearing  up 
The  blessed  burden. ' » 

In  the  third  part  of  these  memoirs,  I 
propose  to  give  a  brief  summary  of  my 
labors,  which  I  trust  have  not  been  with- 
out some  beneficial  results.  That,  however, 
eternity  may  reveal,  it  is  not  for  me  to  esti- 
mate them. 


I 

hi 


Sad  fijirb. 


i^  •  ♦i 


ENGAGEMENTS  FULFILLED. 


PART  THIRD. 


ingageuiJnts  Jf«IfiIIt)>,  ^t. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Sammary  of  Labors,  Aooidents,  &o.  —  Presents,  &o. 

During  my  career  as  a  temperance 
speaker,  which  has  occupied  about  twenty 
years,  I  have  travelled  over  180,000  miles, 
of  these,  600  on  foot,  22,000  in  private 
conveyances,  10,000  by  stage  coach,  24 
miles  astride  a  log  in  Tar  Eiver  (when 
there  was  no  other  means  of  getting  to 
an  appointment,)  35,000  by  water,  800 
on  horseback,  and  the  rest  by  rail. 
I  have  used  five  horses  and  two  mules 
—  one  of  the  former  of  which  was 
sheared  by  some  rum  drinkers  while    I 


!(       f 


112 


ENGAGEMENTS  FULFILLED. 


was  lecturing,  in  consequence  of  which  I 
got  a  pair  of  mules,  which  animals  would 
be  benefitted  by  the  operation!  One  of 
the  horses  was  poisoned. 

I  have  made  5000  speeches,  or  about 
250  a  year — averaging  1|  hours  each, 
making  a  total  of  8,750  hours,  or  729  days 
of  talking.  Have"  spoken  in  32  States,  and 
two  territories,  and  in  the  British  Ameri- 
can possessions,  and  have  addressed  nearly 
3,000,000  people. 

My  lectures  have  been  given  in 

3  Hard  Shell  Baptists  Houses. 
600  Town  Halls. 

600  Court  Houses. 
800  Methodist  Churches. 
360  Presbyterian  Churches. 
650  Baptist  Churches. 

1  Catholic. 

2  Episcopalian. 

12  Railway  Stations  or  Depots. 

4  Cotton  Gin  Houses. 
400  Mass  open  air  Meetings. 

40  Hotel  Dining  Rooms. 


ENGAGEMENTS  FULP/LLBD.  113 


vhich  I 

would 

One  of 

about 
3  each, 
9  days 
es,  and 
Ameri- 
nearly 


200  Temperance  Halls. 
20  on  Steamboats. 
8  on  Canal  Packete, 

20  in  Private  Dwellings. 
20  on  Whaires. 

120  Congregational  Churches. 
600  School  Houses. 
200  Univemlist  Chureheg. 
100  Public  Halls. 
5  State  Prisons. 
1  at  an  Erecution. 

1  in  Deacon  Giles'  DistiUeiy,  Salem,  Mass. 
In  the  course  of  my  travels  I  have  had, 
as  already  related  several  accidents  and 
8ome  narrow  escapes.  I  have  been  mobbed 
more  than  once,  been  nearly  hanged,  and 
often  m  various  perils,  but  on  the  other 
hand  I  have  been  the  recipient  of  much 
kmdness,  and  of  many  valuable  testi- 
momals.  Among  the  latter,  I  may  men- 
tion :  "^ 

One  lot    in    Sumner,  Kansas,  from    the 
iriends  of  the  cause. 


1 

1" 

1 

^1 

V 

.J! 

1 

' 

i|^ 

f 

.1 

1 


114 


ENGAGEMENTS  FULFILLED. 


One  in  Glencoe,  Min.,  from  the  Hon.  A.  J. 

Bell. 
A  horse  from  a  friend  in  North  Carolina, 
A  splendid  gold  headed  Georgia  cane,  with 

one  hundred  dollars  wrapped  round  the 

handle. 
A  complimentary  supper,  and  fifty  dollars 

Ht  Cooperstown,  N.  Y. 
A  silver  headed   cane   made   from   Com- 
modore Perry's  Flag-Ship,  the  Lawrence. 
A  beautifully  bound  Bible  from  the  ladies 

of  Fredericton,  N.  B. 

And  many  other  memorials  which  I  have 
not  space  to  chronicle. 

In  the  fourth  and  concluding  portion  of 
these  memories,  I  beg  to  append  a  few  tes- 
timonials from  the  press  and  from  private 
individuals  ;  not  for  the  gratification  of  any 
vanity,  but  merely  to  show  what  are  the 
iinbought  and  unsolicited  opinions  of 
those  among  whom  I  have  labored. 


lina. 
B,  with 
ad  the 

dollars 


Com- 

vrence. 

ladies 


f  art  ianxi\. 


I  have 

tion  of 
ew  tes- 
private 
of  any 
ire  the 
)ns     of 


TESTIMONIALS. 


PART  FOURTH. 


S^tstimoniah. 


Pni  Sigma  Hall,  UNrvr-nsiTT  of  Mississippi,  > 
Febkuaiiy  25, 1860.  5 

S.  M.  Hewlett— Dear  Sir.  —  I  have  the  honor  of  in- 
forming you,  that,  at  a  regular  meeting  of  the  Phi  Sig- 
ma Society,  you  were  this  morning  elected  an  honorary 
member  of  the  same.  Hoping  you  will  avail  yourself  of 
the  earliest  opportunity  to  be  initiated, 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

F.  A.  POPE, 
Cor.  Sec.  Phi  Sigma  Soaiett/. 

From  Hon.  Edward  Billahunty,  Tenn* 
I  regard  Mr.  Hewlett  as  a  remarkable  man  in  the 
Temper  ance  Drama— just  adapted  to  the  times,  when  it 
is  thought  nothing  new  can  be  said. 

Hon.  James  Meachantt  Vermont. 
Go  hear  him:  if  you  are  cross,  he  will  make  you  hap- 
py, and  cause  you  to  love  yourself  and  all  around  you. 
If  you  are  a  victim,  listen  to  him  and  believe. 

Iowa  City  Republican. 
Our  citizens,  through  the  efforts  of  the  Library  Asso- 

by  a  Hewlett,  and  instructed  by  a  Gbeelet. 


'i! 


i 

i  ■ 
* 


118 


TESTIMONIALS. 


Minnesotian.  St.  Paul, 
S.  M.  Hewlett  visited  our  city,  by  invitation  of  our 
leading  citizens,  and  treated  us  with  the  best  lectures 
upon  Temperance  we  ever  listened  to.  He  is  a  eound 
reasoner,  and  though  a  small  man  physically,  he  can 
«  knock  Whiskeydom  into  blue  fits."  His  fund  of  anec- 
dotes is  inexhaustible,  and  he  tells  them  as  no  one  else 

Waukegan^  III-  Gazette. 

S.  M.  Hewlett,  the  famous  Temperance  lecturer,  de- 
livers a  lecture  in  Dickinson's  Hall,  this  evening.  Mr. 
Hewlett  has  a  reputation  of  being  second  to  no  lecturer 
but  GouGH.  We  consider  Mr.  Hewlett  the  best  of  the 
two.  His  manner  of  speaking,  his  voice,  his  power  of 
imitation,  are,  in  our  estimation,  more  effective  and 
pleasing  than  Gough's.  We  wish  him  success  in  the  field 
of  Reform. 

Constitutionalists  Augusta^  Ga. 

Our  citizens  have  been  richly  entertained  by  several 
speeches  fr  jm  S.  M.  Hewlett.  He  has  gone  from  here 
to  Savannah,  where  we  hope  he  will  be  warmly  welcom- 
ed. Give  him  a  little  time  and  he  will  make  friends  for 
himself,  and  be  sure  to  draw  crowds.  He  is  a  natural 
orator— a  great  mimic— full  of  anecdote— a  shrewd  man, 
and  an  observant  one  — sinRS  beautifully  —  has  eeon  the 
^orld— is  a  gentleman  and  a  scholar  and  can  entertain  a 

crowd. 

Journal,  Indianapolis^  Ind, 

We  heard  S.  M,  Hewlett's  lecture  on  Monday  even- 
ing, and  venture  to  say  such  another  was  never  deliver- 


TESTIMONIALS. 


119 


I  of  our 
lectures 
a  eound 
he  can 
of  anec- 
one  else 


irer,  de- 
ig.  Mr. 
lecturer 
St  of  the 
power  of 
tive  and 
L  the  field 


J  several 
om  here 
welcom- 
iends  for 
b  natural 
iwd  man, 
1  eeon  the 
itertain  a 


ay  even- 
r  deliver- 


ed in  our  city  before,  for  humor,  for  satire,  for  elo- 
quence, for  power  of  declamation,  for  aptness  of  illus- 
tration. The  annals  of  speech  making  know  no  paral- 
lel. His  side-shaking  anecdotes,  his  mimicry  and  mock- 
ery are  inimitable. 

J^ew  York  Observer. 
A  Coincidence.— J.  B.  Gough  and  S.  M.  Hewlett,  the 
two  popular  Temperance  Speakers,  were  both  born  in 
England— were  both  actors  upon  the  stage— both  dissi- 
pated —  both  rescued  from  the  slough  of  despair  at  the 
same  time— both  same  age— have  both  buried  the  com- 
panion of  their  first  choice  —  are  both  good  singers,  and 
both  are  now  filling  the  land  with  their  eloquent  appeals 
for  suffering  humanity.    God  bless  and  speed  them  both. 

J.  C.  Dobbin,  Ex- Secretary  of  the  JVavy. 
S.  M.  Hewlett,  who  has  been  appointed  Lecturer  for 
the  "  Sons  *'  of  this  State,  has  been  arousing  our  citizens 
for  the  three  days  past.  He  is  a  little  giant  in  his  pecu- 
liar way.  His  power  is  in  ridicule;  he  places  himself  in 
the  position  of  a  liquor  imbiber,  or  license  upholder,  ar- 
gues as  they  argue,  and  makes  them  appear  in  ridicu- 
lous positions;  in  whatever  he  says,  he  **  makes  smiles 
from  reason  flow."  Asa  mimic  he  is  unsurpassed, 
whether  as  a  live  Irishman  he  gives  the  unadulterated 
"  diseoorse,'*  or  as  a  Frenchman,  when  attempting  the 
jaw-twisting  English,  he  confounds  gender,  person  and 
case;  his  imitations  are  perfect.  His  looks  tell  a  story; 
each  wrinkle  on  his  face  contains  an  anecdote;  the  twin- 
kle of  his  eye  propounds  a  query,  and  if  there  is  a  ludi- 
crous point  in  any  arguiuont,  he  will  bring  it  out. 


120 


TESTIMONIALS. 


Omaha  JVebraskian, 
S.  M.  Hewlett,  Esq.,  the  distinguished,  and,  we  may 
add,  eloquent  champion  of  the  Temperance  cause,  lectur- 
ed in  the  Methodist  church  in  this  city,  on  Tuesday  and 
Wednesday  evenings  of  last  week.  The  church  was 
crowded  to  overflowing  both  evenings.  As  a  lecturer  on 
that  subject,  Mr.  Hewlett  has  no  superior,  and  but  few 
equals.  His  style  is  fascinating ;  his  articulation  perfect, 
and  he  seems  to  possess,  in  an  eminent  degree,  all  the 
qualities  that  make  the  orator.  His  fund  of  wit  and  an- 
ecdote appears  to  be  inexhaustible. 

Leavenwortht  Kansas,  Herald. 

Our  citizens  have  never  been  presented  with  a  greater 
treat  than  the  series  of  Temperance  Lectures  delivered 
within  the  past  and  present  week,  by  the  celebrated  S.  M. 
Hewlett. 

The  Lecturer's  great  power  lies,  not  only  in  pathos 
and  argument,  but  in  description  and  the  dramatic  im- 
personation of  character.  His  humor  is  inexhaustible; 
and  in  exquisite  representations  of  diverse  characters,  he 
has,  perhaps,  no  equal  in  America. 

Mr.  Hewlett  is  accomplishing  a  good  work,  and  we 
cheerfully  commend  him  to  the  approbation  and  encour- 
agement of  the  communities  which  he  designs  to  visit. 

From  the  American  Temperance  Magazine,  JVew  York, 

June,  1852. 

S.  M.  Hewlett.  -"  It  is  very  difficult  to  speak  of  him 

in  anything  like  a  spirit  of  critical  examination.    One 

cannot  hear  him  in  cold  blood.    He  sets  all  one's  tastes 

and  sympathies  working  at  once,  to  the  dire  distraction 


.:  -J' 


TESTIM0KIAL8. 


121 


of  the  reason.  Flooded  by  bis  humor,  and  exhilarated 
by  his  heartiness,  we  were  made  to  feel  to  our  finger's 
ends.  We  were  not  only  highly  entertained  while  hear- 
ing him,  but,  (which  is  not  always  the  case)  deeply  im- 
pressed on  our  returning  home,  and  have  been  ever 
since.  In  hostility,  he  is  an  overwhelming  antagonist; 
his  arguments  glittering  with  laughter  and  well  balanc- 
ed with  good  sense.  They  flow  onward  with  the  ease 
and  certainty  of  a  current  above  |^  briG:ht  cascade.  He 
piles  up  his  merriment  like  a  grotesque  mausoleum  over 
his  opponents,  and  so  compactly  and  regularly  that  we 
feel  no  fear  of  its  toppling  over  by  any  retort.  And 
then  he  sets  it  off  with  looks,  tones  and  gestures,  worthy 
of  a  Talma  or  Garrick.  He  is  at  times  pathetic,  but  he 
does  not  excel  here.  His  mimicry  and  life-like  pictures 
tell  with  wonderful  effects  There  is,  however,  one  seri- 
ous objection  to  his  eloquence — he  seldom  lets  down,  and 
then  not  long  enough  for  his  audience  to  rest,  but  keeps 
them  with  the  head  bent  upwards,  neck  stretched  out, 
mouth  and  ears  wide  open,  eyes  strained,  the  mind  con- 
stantly on  tiptoe  to  catch  the  next  expression,  continual- 
ly feeling  that  you  must  explode  under  what  has  just 
been  said,  but  not  daring  for  fear  of  losing  what  is  com- 
ing. This  is  too  bad,  and  we  hope  1 3'11  profit  by  this 
criticism,  rejpiembering  it  is  positively  dangerous  to  raise 
the  steam  so  high  without  providing  a  safety-valve. 

The  Republican,  Springfield,  Mass* 

S.  M.  Hewlett  had  a  large  audience  at  the  Pynchon 
Street  Church,  yesterday  afternoon,  to  hear  his  address 
on  Temperance.    He  proves  an  eloquent,  euective  dra 


122 


TESTIMONIALS. 


li'    t'', 


1     ^ 


M'\        ■ ''li 


matic  speaker.  Mr.  Hewlett  also  jpoke  at  the  House  of 
Correction  yesterday,  and  the  prisoners  were  so  delight- 
ed that  they  wanted  him  to  stay  and  be  "  one  of  'em.  ** 

Gardiner  Journal,  Maine, 

Lecture.— -Mr.  S.  M.  Hewlett,  of  Wisconsin,  deliver- 
ed a  temperance  lecture  on  Sunday  evening,  in  the  Uni- 
versalist  church,  presenting  to  a  considerable  degree,  a 
novel  view  of  this  ofteilcalled  thread-bare  subject,  and 
giving  very  general  satisfaction  to  the  large  audience. 
Mr.  Hewlett  is  a  man  of  education  and  talent — an 
often  eloquent,  though  somewhat  desultory  speaker,  and 
an  excellent  humorist.  This  vein  he  evidently  felt  com- 
pelled to  restrain  out  of  regard  to  ihe  day,  and  we  have 
heard  many  express  the  desire  to  hear  him  on  a  week-day, 
when  he  could  give  his  wit  full  play.  Mr.  Hewlett,  like 
Gough,  is  English  born,  and  like  him,  too,  he  has  per- 
sonally felt  the  evils  of  intemperance,  and  therefore 
speaks  much  from  the  heart.  His  labors  are  calculated 
to  do  much  good  in  renewing  the  interest  which  all 
should  feel  in  a  cause  of  which  they  will  not  have 
"  heard  all,"  certainly,  until  they  have  heard  Hewlett. 

Daily  Couranl,  Hartford,  Conn, 

Mr.  Hewlett  is  remarkably  eloquent  as  a  sj^aker,  and 
a  most  admirable  actor,  his  personations  and  mimics  be- 
ing beyond  praise.  He  is  said  to  be  the  equal  of  Gough, 
and  holds  his  audience  enchained  by  his  wonderful  pow- 
ers. This  evening  all  who  are  interested  in  temperance 
should  attend.  Those  who  are  in  the  habit  of  "  taking  a 
little  moderately  -  * '  will  do  well  to  be  on  hand. 


TESTIMONIALS. 


123 


>» 


Daily  Mercury,  JSTewarkj  JSTew  Jersey, 
S.  M.  Hewlett,  the  distinguished  Temperance  speak- 
ir,  delivered  two  lectures  in  this  place  on  Sunday  and 
Monday  nights.  A  large  audience  was  present  on  Sun- 
day night,  but  on  Monday  night  the  house  was  a  perfect 
jam.  It  is  useless  for  us  to  speak  of  the  style  of  the  ora- 
tory Mr.  Hewlett  has  no  superiors,  and  few  equals,  as  a 
lecturer.  He  attacks  the  license  system  with  that  keen- 
est of  weapons,  satire,  and  every  blow  of  his  trenchant 
blade,  shakes  the  Redan  of  falsehood,  and  makes  theMal- 
akoflf  of  error  tremble  to  its  centre. 

Herald  and  Advertiser,  Kingston,  Canada. 
Mr.  Hewlett's  merits  as  a  popular  lecturer  are  great. 
In  our  judgment,  he  excels  Mr.  Gough  in  the  comic 
touches  of  character  which  he  introduces;  in  fact,  he 
equals,  if  not  surpasses  the  celebrated  Sam  Cowell  him- 
self, in  this.  His  sketches  of  Irish,  French,  and  Yankee 
character  are  really  inimitable. 


TO  SAMUEL  M.  HEWLETT. 

All  o*er  our  broad  land  is  the  cry  of  "  To  Arms," 
Hill  and  valley  resound  with  grim  battle's  alarms; 
The  war-dogs  are  slipped,  and  wild  "  havoc's"  the  cry. 
And  the  brave  and  the  bold  fight,  and  conquer  or  die. 
From  the  city— the  village— rise  shrieks  of  aflright, 
As  sons,  brothers,  husbands,  march  off  to  the  fight; 
And  widows'  and  orphans'  tears  silently  flow, 

Fni*  fVlAir  Invofl   nnoa  TffVio  flinrl      an/iU   Tiri^^   'P.'><%n  4-^  4>V<«  A->a 


ii    '4 


"  i 


124 


TESTIMONIALS. 


B 


i^       '  .Si 


m\ 


But,  ah!  there's  a  conflict  more  terrible  still— 

A  warfare  that's  waged  by  a  demon  of  III; 

An  enemy  worse  than  the  mad  Rebel  horde, 

Whose  weapons  more  powerful  than  cannon  or  sword. 

'Tis  Intemperance  who  smites  down  the  young  and  the 

old. 
The  timid,  the  reckless,  the  beauteous,  the  bold; 
Who  steals  on  his  victims  in  pleasure's  wild  hours, 
And  his  poison  conceals  beneath  garlands  of  flowers. 

You,  Hewlett,  have  dared  with  this  foe  to  engage— 
Against  ills  dark  legions  truth's  warfare  to  wage: 
Once  you  served  in  his  army,  a  mad  march  pursuing, 
With  General  Remorse,  and  with  gaunt  General  Ruin; 
But  thousands  to-day  are  to  Heaven  giving  thanks. 
That  scorning  the  wine-cup  you  quitted  their  ranks. 
You  left  the  black  banner  that  loomed  o'er  your  head~ 
Now  the  white  flag  of  Temperance  waves  there  instead. 

Let  war's  heroes  with  chaplets  of  laurels  be  crowned— 
A  coronal  nobler  for  you  will  be  found; 
Far  more  glorious  than  their's  is  the  cause  you  defend. 
So,  Hewlett,  fight  on— not  man's  foe  but  his  friend^ 
God  has  given  you  eloquence,  humor  and  power. 
To  bring  smiles  to  the  lips,  or  draw  tears  like  a  shower. 
These  weapons  use  still,  they  are  God-given— sublime. 
And  assail  with  love's  sling  this  Goliath  of  Cbime. 


rd. 
d  the 


3. 


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lin; 

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Thirty-Fourth  I!dinburgh  Edition* 
PASSAGES 


FBOM 


THE  HISTORY  OF  A  WASTED  LIFE. 

By  the  Author  of  '*  Pen  and  Ink  Sketches,"  &o. 


BY   THE   SAME   AUTHOR. 
Fifth  Edinburgh   Edition. 

WRECKED  BUT  SAVED; 


OB, 


Stories  told  at  the  Boston  Washiogtonian  Home. 

For  Sale  by  REDDING  &  CO.,  8  State  St.,  Beaton. 


WASHINGTONIAN  HOME. 

AN   ASYLUM    FOR    INEBRIATES. 

liooated  at  887  Washington  St.,  Boston 


©rgamjeU  It^ob*  5, 1857-lIncorporateK  ilHaufj  20.  t859» 

Applications  for  Admission  can  be  made  to  the  Super- 
intendent. If  application  is  made  by  letter,  a  full  state- 
ment should  be  given  of  the  case,  its  duration,  whether 
periodical  or  otherwise,  the  state  of  general  health,  &c. 

ALBERT  DAY,  Superintendent. 

Boston,  January  1, 1862 


¥.l; 


IFE. 

0. 


Some. 

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[•ES, 


Super- 
1  state- 
rhether 
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dent. 


